Mitimiti
{{about|the settlement|the sea snail|Coelotrochus tiaratus}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Mitimiti
|population_total =
|population_as_of = 2006
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = New Zealand
|subdivision_type1= Region
|subdivision_name1= Northland Region
|subdivision_type2= District
|subdivision_name2= Far North District
|pushpin_map = Northland
|coordinates = {{coord|35|25|30|S|173|16|15|E|region:NZ|display=inline}}
}}
Mitimiti is a small settlement in Northland, New Zealand. It lies close to the Warawara Forest, between the mouths of the Whangape Harbour and Hokianga Harbour on Northland's west coast, 44 km west of Kohukohu. Mitimiti is part of the Hokianga North statistical area. For demographics of this area, see Panguru.
Name
There are several stories about the origin of the name Mitimiti.
The name "Mitimiti" is thought to come from a Māori term meaning "to lick", a reference to the belief that the souls of the dead, on their way to Cape Reinga, paused here to drink at the mouth of the Mitimiti Stream.Wise's New Zealand guide (1969) Dunedin: H. Wise & Co., p. 184.
Another story is that the great chief More Te Korohanga was slain in a battle there. The warriors wanted a piece of the chief, but there wasn't enough of his body for everyone, so they licked his blood from the rocks there.{{cite web |title=Mitimiti |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/keyword/tags-53 |website=NZ History |access-date=29 March 2021}}
History
=SS ''Ventnor''=
On 27 October 1902, the SS Ventnor sank near the Hokianga Heads.{{Cite news |url= https://www.maoritelevision.com/about/media/100-year-old-tragedy-499-lost-miners-premieres-maori-television |title=100-Year Old Tragedy of 499 Lost Miners Premieres on Māori Television|website=Māori Television|language=en|access-date=29 April 2019}} The ship was carrying the remains of 499 Chinese miners back to China,{{cite news |last1=Dastgheib |first1=Shabnam |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/63339250/shipwreck-of-ss-ventnor-and-its-dead-finally-found |access-date=30 March 2021 |title= Shipwreck of SS Ventnor and its dead finally found |work=Stuff |date=14 November 2014}} however, none of the Chinese bodies were recovered initially.
For weeks and months following the wreck, bones washed ashore along the Hokianga, including on the beach at Mitimiti. Locals, unsure of the origins of the bones, buried them in their cemeteries.{{cite web |title=Wandering with Ancestors |url=https://www.northlandnz.com/assets/Uploads/NJ-Wandering-With-Ancestors.pdf |website=Northland NZ |access-date=31 March 2021}} In 2007, Chinese settlers began to make links between the story of the SS Ventnor and the bones, and official relationships between Te Rarawa and The New Zealand Chinese Association were formed.{{cite web |title=History |url=https://ssventnor.wordpress.com/history/ |website=NZ Chinese Association: Ventnor Project |access-date=31 March 2021}}
In 2013, a memorial gateway was unveiled in the cemetery in Mitimiti,{{cite web |last1=To |first1=James |title=A spiritual connection': Fate of the SS Ventnor links Chinese with Māori |url=https://www.asiamediacentre.org.nz/opinion/ss-ventnor-maori-chinese-relationship/ |website=Asian Media Centre |access-date=31 March 2021}} to honor the sinking. It was blessed by both Māori and Chinese {{cite news |title=Buddhist blessing for wreck souls |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/buddhist-blessing-for-wreck-souls/USNKGWPIOT2SIERYZIIEZKUDAA/ |access-date=31 March 2021 |work=Northern Advocate |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=14 February 2015}}
Marae
The local Mātihetihe Marae is affiliated with the Te Rarawa hapū of Te Taomauī and Te Hokokeha.{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri}}{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}} The name Mātihetihe is reference to the tihetihe, or tumble weeds that grow on the sanddunes.{{cite web |title=About Matihetihe Marae |url=https://www.matihetihemarae.nz/ |website=Matihetihe Marae |access-date=31 March 2021}}
The marae complex consists of a wharenui named Tūmoana after the captain of the Tinana canoe, and a wharekai named Ngā Ringa Rau o Te Ākau (The many hands on the shore). Next to the marae complex is Hato Hēmi a catholic church. Above the marae on a hill sits the wāhi tapu (cemetery) named Hīone.{{cite web |title=About Matihetihe Marae |url=https://www.matihetihemarae.nz/ |website=Matihetihe Marae |access-date=31 March 2021}}
In February 2015 the marae was chosen to be part of TV3's Marae DIY.{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Mikaela |title=Whanau return for a special marae makeover |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/whanau-return-for-a-special-marae-makeover/U2RLMHAKWWNYJ3PUQXV3QCY76U/ |access-date=29 March 2021 |work=Northern Advocate |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=28 February 2015}} The wharenui was completely refurbished on the show.{{cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.matihetihemarae.nz/ |website=Matihetihe Marae |access-date=29 March 2021}} At the same time, the marae was connected to fibre broadband, in a project named Mititmiti on the Grid.{{cite web |title=CATCHING UP WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD AT HIGH SPEED |url=https://thedownload.co.nz/our-stories/catching-up-with-the-rest-of-the-world-at-high-speed/ |website=The Download |access-date=29 March 2021}}
In October 2020, the Government committed $1,407,731 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and 8 other Te Rarawa marae, creating 100 jobs.{{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}}
Education
Te Kura o Mātihetihe is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school{{TKI|1046|Matihetihe}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1046|y}} students as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}} The school was founded in 1890, and was initially a part-time Native School taught at the Mātihetihe whare.{{cite book|title=Remember the Hokianga|editor=Olive Harris and Chris Lancaster|isbn=978-0-473-11859-4|chapter=Our First Voting Ladies|pages=355|year=2006|publisher=O. Harris }}
Notable people
Artist Ralph Hotere was born in Mitimiti in 1931, and was buried there in 2013.Tahana, Y. "[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10868524 Hotere's body arrives at Mitimiti]", New Zealand Herald, 1 March 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2015. He also attended Matihetihe school.{{cite web|url=http://www.beach-house.co.nz/hokianga_history.htm|title=About Mitimiti|access-date=2008-01-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014021004/http://www.beach-house.co.nz/hokianga_history.htm|archive-date=2007-10-14|url-status=dead}}
Poet Hone Tuwhare wrote poem A fall of rain at Mitimiti: Hokianga which was published in 1974 in his collection Something Nothing.{{cite web |title=Remembering Northland |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/7640/remembering-northland |website=Te Ara |access-date=31 March 2021}}
References
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{{coord|35|25|30|S|173|16|15|E|region:NZ_type:city|display=title}}