Motuoapa Cliffs, Lake Taupo. New Zealand. - Charnel Chapels, Charnel Houses and Ossuaries on Waymarking.com

The Parikarangaranga cliffs at Motuoapa are an ancient burial ground (urupa) of the Tuwharetoa people. It is also an important sacred site. Climbing of the cliffs is not permitted.

In the past, the wetland areas on the southern Taupo Lakeshore were an important source of food to Maori living in several villages that once stood along the lakeshore near Motuoapa. The rock cliffs behind the villages and on the headland were used as burial sites. One of these sites was amongst the rocky Cliffs behind the present day Motuoapa Village.

It is recorded that Herea, later known as Te Heuheu Tukino, was born around the middle of the eighteenth century. lived in the fortified pa Waitahanui, at the mouth of the Tongariro River. He ruled wisely over Ngati Tuwharetoa for many years. During his time the goodwill between his tribe and Ngati Maniapoto and the Waikato tribes increased. He died at Waitahanui probably in the early 1820s. His body was taken with much ceremony to Motuoapa, the peninsula between Korohe and Te Rangi-ita. Later his bones were removed by Ngati Te Rangi-ita and taken to a cave at Pari-karangaranga, a rocky cliff close by.

Please Note: This whole Cliff site is now protected and rock climbing is no longer allowed at this area. There is a walking track leading to a viewing platform up on the Motuoapa Cliffs, you may wish to walk the track up the cliff to the Lookout with spectacular views over the marina and Lake Taupo. Beside Motuoapa Lodge is a small side road with room to park. This is the start of the Motuoapa Lookout Track, 20 mins return.

Some interesting reading on The Maori Race, Burials, (visit link) Page 396.

More interesting facts: (visit link) Page 73.

Accessible: yes Admission fee: Free Web documentation: [Web Link] Active: Not Listed

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Date Logged Log   11/20/2013 Punga and Paua visited it