Stèle Vēhiatua i te Māta'i

Originating at the foot of Mount Roniu, Mount Maire-nui and Mount Te-ava, the Fauoro River (also known as Ti'i-rahi) winds its way 14 km through the valley before reaching its mouth at KP 0. The river's flow has formed the famous Hava'e Pass, located between Matahīhae Point (to the west) and Fare-mahora Point (to the east). Hava'e Pass opens out onto the ocean, welcoming swells from the south. It's a traditional surfing mecca, now internationally renowned.

For the ancient Polynesians, ocean waves were living entities, responding to the wrath of the gods. Certain waves had names and were sometimes personified in myths, regarded as veritable monsters to be vanquished. Teahūpo’o’s mythical wave is called Pererure, referring to the wrath of Pere, goddess of volcanoes once revered on the Taiarapu peninsula.

In ancient times, a high-ranking young woman (tapairu) named Vēhiatua was a true champion of hōrue. “I am Vēhiatua i te Māta’i, the daughter of the winds, she who rides the waves of Ta’aroa” she would cry out as she surfed the waves. She stood splendidly on the ocean’s surface, seen as the “skin” of the god Ta’aroa, master of the ocean depths. The chief of Matahīhae, Te-iha-moe-roa, jealous of her success, decided to appropriate her name and fame, and drive her from his territory.

Thus, the lineages of chiefs (ari’i) of the Taiarapu peninsula took the title of Vēhiatua i te Māta’i.