title: Te Whaiti
text: # Te Whaiti
  
  Te Whaiti or Te Whāiti, formerly called Ahikereru, is a forested area in the Whakatāne District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is at the northern end of the Ahikereru valley – Minginui is at the southern end. The Whirinaki River flows through the valley.
  
  The area's full Māori name, Te Whāiti-nui-a-Toi, translates as "the great canyon of Toi", referring to an ancestor of this area, Toi-kai-rākau / Toi-te-huatahi.
  
  Albert Percy Godber took photographs of Māori art and architecture in the area.
  
  ## Marae
  
  Te Whaiti is in the rohe (tribal area) of both Tūhoe and Ngāti Whare.
  
  It has three marae:
  
  * Waikotikoti Marae and Hinenuitepo meeting house is affiliated with the Tūhoe hapū of Te Karaha, Ngāti Hāmua, Warahoe, and with Ngāti Whare.
  * Murumurunga Marae and Wharepakau meeting house is affiliated with both iwi.
  * Waireporepo Marae is a meeting ground of Ngāti Whare; it has no meeting house.
  
  In October 2020, the Government committed $793,189 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the Waikotikoti and Murumurunga Marae, creating 20 jobs.
  
  ## Education
  
  A school opened in Te Whaiti in 1896 and merged with Minginui Forest School in 2004. The school is now Te Kura Toitu o Te Whaiti-nui-a-Toi, a co-educational state, Restricted Composite Special Character School.
  
  