Summary
The Ōpito area has an extensive pre-European history. The earliest Polynesian settlers arrived here 700 – 800 years ago.
Archaeological research mainly in the 1950’s and 1960’s gives a clear insight into the diet of these earliest settlers. They ate a wide variety of shellfish including tuatua, mussel, scallop, cockle, cat’s eye, limpet, paua and many gastropods. Many sea and forest birds were eaten, including albatross, little blue penguin, shearwaters, kaka, and moa. Fur seals, elephant seals, sea lion dog and rat were also exploited. The most common fish caught were snapper, leatherjacket, spotty and kahawai – some caught by hook and line and others by net.
Dominating the area is the hill Tahanga. This hill is composed of a fine grained basalt – ideal for manufacture into stone adzes. Adzes of this recognisable basalt have been found in association with early Polynesian settlements 500 to 800 years old as far apart as Houhora in the Far North and Taranaki. The adzes were used for all forms of woodworking and chort, found locally, was used for cutting as was the black volcanic glass, obsidian, which was brought here from Mayor Island, Great Barrier Island, Whangamata and Waihi. The headland at the eastern end of the bay contains a large, fortified pā with three separate ditches and banks defending the high point. Inside the pā are terraces that would have contained houses and cooking shelters, and deep pits for the storage of kumara and other root crops.
About 1900 AD the only occupants of the area were a few gold miners who lived on the ridge overlooking Ōpito Bay. At that time there was a dairy farm at Matapaua Bay and the cream was taken to Kuūaotunu by packhorse as the only real access was by sea. The road over the Blackjack was begun in the 1930’s as part of an employment scheme during the Depression. This was upgraded during World War II to supply access to the lookout posts on the cliffs above Crayfish Bay and to the two farms in the bay.
Until 1969 when the electric power reached the bay the farms relied on their own generators to supply the power for all the farm and household needs. There was a small subdivision for seaside housing in 1958 although there was little building until after the 1973 subdivision and the construction of the bridge over the Stewart stream.
For those wanting to know a little more about the early days of Ōpito as a camping destination, Brenda Sewell’s book “Camping at Ōpito Bay” is a fascinating glimpse of those early holidays – and a timely reminder of just how comfortable our baches are these days – although maybe we miss out on some of the fun and excitement they shared!
There is much to learn about the pre European history of Ōpito, and we are currently looking at ways we can support investigation and publication. We would also love to hear from anyone who has stories or photographs of interest which can be shared on this site.