New Zealand - Maori Culture - The Cave of Muriwai, Whakatane - The inscription reads: Visitor, you stand before the cave of Muriwai, loved and honoured ancestress of the Ngatiawa tribes who lived and died here 600 years ago. It was allotted her by her grandfather Irekawa, on her arrival here as passenger in the famous Mataatua canoe. Wise and gifted she became priestess and seer of the early settlement. Her mana has captured the imagination of her people and endured down the centuries. To her memory this cave is dedicated and is a sacred spot. You are asked to treat it as such. Vale Muriwai! - Glady M. Goodall Photographer - Printed by Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd. for the Felicity Card Co. Ltd. - Real Photo Postcard #340983 - Te Ana o Muriwai (Muriwai’s Cave) is one of the most sacred and historically significant sites in the Whakatāne region. It is one of the three landmarks Toroa was told to look for by his father, Irakewa, when the Mataatua canoe arrived at Kakahoroa. The other landmarks are Te Wairere (Wairere Falls) and Te Toka o Irakewa (Irakewa Rock). - Irakewa also expressed a wish that his daughter, Muriwai, should occupy this place. Born of chiefly descent, Muriwai was held in the highest regard and was renowned for her wisdom and second sight. Muriwai originally settled in Ohiwa, then moved to Ōpōtiki and founded what was to become to become the Whakatohea tribe. She returned from Ohiwa in later years to reside in the cave. She died there and left the place with a heavy tapu, which was lifted in 1963. - The cave at one time could accommodate up to sixty, and it was once extended some 122 metres into the hillside. Its original floor was just over a metre below the existing roadway. - Muriwai is a loved and honoured ancestress of the Mataatua tribes whose mana has endured down the centuries. This cave is dedicated to her memory and remains to this day a special place. - Located on Muriwai Drive, Whakatāne. (source - https://www.whakatane.com/activities/muriwais-cave)