Whareponga

{{Short description|Bay and rural community in Gisborne, New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox settlement  | name = Whareponga | image_skyline = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Gisborne District | subdivision_type2 = Ward | subdivision_name2 = Tairāwhiti General Ward | leader_title = Territorial authority | leader_name = Gisborne District Council | leader_title2 = Mayor of Gisborne | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Gisborne District Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = East Coast MP | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|East Coast MP|y}} | leader_title4 = Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP|y}} | seat_type = Electorates | seat = {{ubl|East Coast|Ikaroa-Rāwhiti (Māori)}} | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | population_footnotes = | population_total = | population_as_of = | population_density_km2 = | postal_code_type = Postcode | timezone = NZST | utc_offset = +12 | timezone_DST = NZDT | utc_offset_DST = +13 | postal_code = 4081 | area_code = 06 | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 8 | coordinates = {{coord|37.962085|S|178.368783|E|region:NZ_type:city|display=inline,title}} }} '''Whareponga''' is a bay and rural community in the Gisborne District of New Zealand's North Island. It is located north of Waipiro Bay, and is the mouth of Whareponga Stream and Wharekaka Stream.<ref name="hariss">{{cite web |last1=Hariss |first1=Gavin |title=Whareponga Bay, Gisborne |url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz4622/Whareponga-Bay/ |website=topomap.co.nz |publisher=NZ Topo Map}}</ref>

==Geography==

The area has a rugged landscape,<ref name="ngamaunga">{{cite news |title=Ngā Maunga |url=http://test.helm1.gisborneherald.co.nz/Pdf.aspx?type=feature&id=9261&name=Nga%20Maunga%20Korero%20page%20021.pdf |agency=Te Ao Maori i Te Tairawhiti |publisher=Gisborne Herald |format=PDF}}</ref> featuring green bush-covered hills and exposed cliffs.<ref name="papakainga" />

==History==

The local Ngāti Porou hapū of Te Aitanga a Mate takes its name from a common ancestor, Materoa.<ref name="papakainga">{{cite web |title=Whareponga Papakāinga - The Legacy of Materoa |url=https://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/mo-te-puni-kokiri/our-stories-and-media/whareponga-papakainga-the-legacy-of-materoa |website=tpk.govt.nz |publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri |date=20 December 2017}}</ref> The Whareponga Marae, also affiliated with the Ngāi Tangihaere hapū,<ref name="tkmentry">{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri}}</ref> includes a meeting house named after Materoa.<ref name="maorimaps">{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}</ref><ref name="ngatiporou">{{cite web |title=Whareponga Marae |url=https://ngatiporou.com/nati-life/ngati-porou-marae/whareponga-marae |website=ngatiporou.com |publisher=Ngāti Porou}}</ref>

Since the 19th century, most of the hapū has migrated to larger centres. New homes were built for returning families in 2017, with funding from Te Puni Kōkiri.<ref name="papakainga" />

In October 2020, the Government committed $5,756,639 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the Whareponga Marae and 28 other Ngāti Porou marae. The funding was expected to create 205 jobs.<ref name="maraepgf">{{cite web |title=Marae Announcements |url=https://www.growregions.govt.nz/assets/funding-announcements/marae-announcements.xlsx |website=growregions.govt.nz |publisher=Provincial Growth Fund |format=Excel |date=9 October 2020}}</ref>

==Demographics== Demographics for Whareponga are included at Hiruharama#Demographics.

==Notable people== * Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu, soldier and VC recipient * Arihia Ngata, community leader

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Populated places in the Gisborne District Category:Bays of the Gisborne District