Whareponga

{{Short description|Bay and rural community in Gisborne, New Zealand}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

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.{{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}}

The area has a rugged landscape,{{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}} featuring green bush-covered hills and exposed cliffs.

The local Ngāti Porou hapū of Te Aitanga a Mate takes its name from a common ancestor, Materoa.{{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}} The Whareponga Marae, also affiliated with the Ngāi Tangihaere hapū,{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri}} includes a meeting house named after Materoa.{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}{{cite web |title=Whareponga Marae |url=https://ngatiporou.com/nati-life/ngati-porou-marae/whareponga-marae |website=ngatiporou.com |publisher=Ngāti Porou}}

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.

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.{{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}}