Te Ao Māori

Name given to spot where haka composed

07:08 am on 15 November 2011

A shelter built right on the spot where the haka Ka Mate was composed by Ngati Toa chief Te Rauparaha has been named.

The shelter at Opotaka Pa has been given the title Te Ruruhau o Te Wharerangi or The shelter of Te Wharerangi.

Te Wharerangi helped Te Rauparaha escape from a war party seeking revenge about 200 years ago.

The shelter named after the Tuwharetoa tipuna overlooks Lake Rotoaira and Mt Tongariro in the Lake Taupo Region.

It was constructed just before the South African rugby team was welcomed to the region in September.