The distinctive shape of Akaroa Harbour meant that people could keep in touch with relatives living across the other side of the harbour with signal fires.
For the Ngāti Tarewa people living at Ōnuku their signal station was based at the southern end of the bay and called ‘rau’ (leaves); ‘mataki’ (sit and watch).
A sentry was posted there to keep a watch out for any signals from the Wainui pā across the waters.
Sources
- Old Maori place names around Akaroa Harbour by Louis J. Vangioni; with supplementary notes by D. J. C. Pringle
