Female warrior honoured with street name

Te Rapa section of the Waikato Expressway celebrated a milestone with the opening of Koura Drive, previously known by its construction name Central Rd.

The new road will become the main route from Te Kowhai to Hamilton city in September.

The opening of Koura Drive ensures Te Rapa section of the expressway is fully future-proofed and integrated into the Hamilton City Council's and the Waikato region's long-term development plans.

The name koura was chosen in consultation with local iwi to commemorate a local female warrior who conquered the area in the 17th century. During a battle in which her male relatives were killed, Koura, armed with a taiaha named Hua Katoa, answered the challenge to fight for her pa.

Because the challengers did not want to fight a woman they declared peace between their families. Koura buried the sacred taiah on the peak of Mount Hangawera.

At the same time, she declared that all the lands from Mt Hangawera (near Morrinsville) to the west (now Hamilton City) should be invaded and taken from the Nga Iwi who lived there.

This was achieved by her grandson, Hotumauea, the renowned warlord whose name is now inscribed on the retaining wall in Wairere Drive. Hotumauea thus established the traditional lands of Ngati Koura.

Through the intermarrying of Koura's descendants, Ngati Koura became closely aligned with Ngati Wairere. The story of Ngati Koura is recorded in various Maori Land Court minute books written between 1867-82.