Julie King
LOCATION: Caroline Bay
The mural down at the bay has lots of clues to unravel from our history. There is a portrait with the name Te Rehe. Do you know who he was?
"Te Rehe was a Kāi Tahu leader in the 19th century. Te Rehe and his sons regularly guided surveyors and government agents through the South Canterbury region and hosted them at Te Waiateruatī pā on the Ōrakipaoa River. ... In the summer of 1843-44, Edward Shortland (Protector for the Aborigines) travelled the length of the east coast of Te Waipounamu undertaking a census of the southern Māori population. Accompanied by two Māori guides from the North Island, Shortland’s party was also joined by several different Ngāi Tahu guides on various legs of the journey. Among these guides were Poua and Tarawhata, the sons of the Kāti Huirapa rangatira (chief), Te Rehe."
"The Bishop entered South Canterbury on 13 January 1844 crossing the Rangitata near the mouth and then following along the coast to the Ohape river (now the Orari) which he crossed and then turned inland, observing in his journal: Bishop Selwyn reaches Waiateruati holding a morning service and registering the names including those absent. Two days later at Dashing Rocks he baptised the child of Te Rehe, who lived there with his wife in a hut, and describe the local area mentioning the old whaling station."
- A Record of Settlement
Te Rehe's portrait was drawn by Walter Mantell in October 1848, you can see the sketchbook here: https://www.kahurumanu.co.nz/ka-ara.../wairewa-to-waitarakao