This area has a replica of the Weeping Dove.
When the Tainui waka (canoe) reached Aotearoa, its first landfall was at Whangaparaoa, at the eastern end of the Bay of Plenty.
On arrival, the captain of the canoe, Hoturoa, built an altar there to give thanks to the Gods for their safe arrival, and to seek continuing protection and sanction for the future well-being of the ship's company.
Geneological traditions tell us that some of the company stayed behind in the Bay of Plenty, at both Whangaparaoa and further west at Torere, but the majority continued westward to Coromandel (where one of the sails was left at Whitianga).
Eventually they entered the Hauraki gulf and the Waitemata, where some others left the Tainui waka - canoe and settled on the narrow isthmus which later became known as Tamaki-makaurau.
At each resting place altars were constructed and prayers offered-up for a continuation of their well-being.
At Tamaki, the Tainui waka was dragged over the narrow portage between the Waitemata and the Manuka (Manukau) harbours.
It is said that the priest Rakataura (also called Rakaiuru) in the company of other tohunga left Tainui and proceeded southwards through the forestlands by foot.
Still, the majority of the company was aboard when Tainui cleared the Manukau heads and sailed along the boisterous west coast of the island, which is still referred to today as the Tai Tamatane.
At first, the Tainui waka sailed north into the Kaipara harbour and then beyond it, but then turned south and explored the coast to the south of Manuka.
Initially they sailed past the Waikato heads and the three harbours, Whaingaroa, Aotea and Kawhia, eventually making landfall at Mimi, in North Taranaki, where Hoturoa planted a pohutukawa tree which he had transported from the east coast (the Tai Tamawahine).
Turning northwards again, Hoturoa navigated the Tainui waka ( canoe ) to Mokau, where it was hauled ashore and secured to three posts.
According to oral traditions recorded by Kelly, the ship's company left Tainui at Mokau and travelled northwards to Kawhia where Hoturoa and Rakataura were able to reconcile their differences.
The Tainui waka was launched again at Mokau, where its anchor-stone was left, and it was sailed back up the coast to Kawhia, where, at Maketu, it was finally hauled ashore to rest.
The extent of these early excursions established the boundaries of the territory claimed by Tainui, and still recognised by all the other tribes today.
(From http://www.kawhia.maori.nz/tainui-waka.html)
Maori War Canoe by Sydney Parkinson, available from here