Te Mahoe

Te Mahoe is a rural settlement in the Whakatane District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island, next to Lake Matahina.

The community consists of about 150 people,[1] including 30 families in the village at the base of the Lake Matahina Dam.[2] Locals describe the community has close-knit and centred around the local school.[3]

History

Hone Tuwhare

Poet Hone Tuwhare lived in Te Mahoe during the 1950s and 1960s with his wife, writer Jean McCormack, and their three sons.[4] He worked as a boiler-maker on the construction of the Matahina hydroelectric dam.[5]

In 1962, the Whakatane Beacon newspaper published one of Tuwhare's poems. It began:

Up at the dam site, at Te Mahoe,
among the clatter of pneumatic drills,
the settling dust and the raw earth,
a man is writing poetry.[5]

His first book was published two years later, in 1964, to immediate critical acclaim.[6]

Cyclone Cook

The area was affected by Cyclone Cook in April 2017. The school was closed for several days.[7] A boil water notice was issued for residents due to sediment from floodwaters contaminating water supplies.[8]

Arnica Savage murder

Arnica Savage, a two-year-old girl from the village, was reported missing on 1 July. She was found dead in the Rangitaiki River following an extensive search. Locals originally said she had been fishing her with father, Tewi Savage, when she fell into the river and he was unable to swim to save her.[9]

However, the father was later charged with her murder,[10] Prosecutors alleged the electrician was angry and frustrated about the relationship breakdown and separation from his wife, who had moved to Whakatane and begun a relationship with a mutual friend.[11] The defence laywer argued he was working long hours while caring for five children, and had been suffering from undiagnosed bipolar disorder.[12] He was found guilty in March 2020.[13]

Education

Te Mahoe School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[14] with a roll of 35 as of March 2020.[15]

References
  1. Fraser, Cleo (11 July 2018). "Man accused of Bay of Plenty murder dead toddler's father". MediaWorks New Zealand. Newshub.
  2. Arthur-Worsop, Stephanie (11 July 2018). "Name suppression lapses for man charged with 2-year-old Arnica Savage's murder". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Rotorua Daily Post.
  3. Shand, Matt (4 July 2018). "Not guilty plea over death of toddler found in Rangitaiki River". stuff.co.nz. Waikato Times.
  4. Hunt, Janet (29 April 2020). "Haere ra, Jean McCormack". newsroom.co.nz.
  5. "The poet and boilermaker". whakatanemuseum.org.nz. Whakatane Museum.
  6. Heine, Conrad (21 January 2008). "Hone Tuwhare: Maori poet whose 'No Ordinary Sun' catapulted him to celebrity". The Independent.
  7. "Schools and early childhood education centres remain closed". Māori Television. Te Kaea. 13 April 2017.
  8. "Live: Cyclone Cook strikes NZ – Storm makes landfall, tracks down east coast". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald. 13 April 2017.
  9. Staff reporter (2 July 2018). "Sombre scenes where 2-year-old died in Rangitaiki River". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald.
  10. Yalden, Philippa (2 July 2018). "Man charged with murder after 2-year-old girl's body found in Bay of Plenty river". stuff.co.nz.
  11. Yalden, Phiippa (10 March 2020). "Fears for mental health of father accused of murder of two year old girl". stuff.co.nz. Waikato Times.
  12. Yalden, Philippa (17 March 2020). "Man accused of BOP murder has sanity questioned". Sun Media. stuff.co.nz.
  13. Mather, Mike (20 March 2020). "Father found guilty of murdering two-year-old daughter". stuff.co.nz. Waikato Times.
  14. "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  15. "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.

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