Maungakaramea

Maungakaramea is a locality in Northland, New Zealand. Whangarei is to the northeast. Maungakaramea forms part of the Bream Bay Ward of the Whangarei District Council. The name Maungakaramea was given to the area by the Māori. There are two interpretations of the meaning of the name, one is that "Karamea" means Native Tree, hence the "Karamea tree mountain", the other is that Karamea is a coloured clay of a reddish type used for war paint on the face and body. A safe interpretation is "Red Ochre Mountain". The area from Whangarei to Waipu, Waihonga and Tangihua, was taken from Ngaitahuhu by a Ngapuhi chief, Te Ponaharakeke, who joined with Te Ngarokiteuru to drive all the Ngaitahuhu out in the mid-18th century. The first record of a...