The northern point of Tikao Bay is named Te Whatamako. Te Whatamako means the storehouse of mako
.
Dried mako shark was a popular staple for those hapū living in the harbours of Whakaraupō (Lyttelton) and Akaroa, being plentiful and easily caught.
When the time was right, large numbers of people in waka and in the water would herd the mako into the shallows of the tidal mudflats where they could be caught.
The strong winds that blew at Te Whatamako were used to dry and cure the meat. Once dried, they were stored in whata (storehouses) that were built on posts raised above the ground to keep the contents safe for future use.
Sources
- Louis Vangioni, Māori names & traditions — points of interest around Akaroa Harbour The Akaroa Mail, 1970
- Louis J. Vangioni; with supplementary notes by D. J. C. Pringle, Old Maori place names around Akaroa Harbour, Akaroa : Akaroa Mail, 1967
