Dug out of the sand by local farmer Arthur Gibson in 1969 , the anchor of the barque Harriet, wrecked at the mouth of the Ōkahu Stream south of Rāhotu in 1834, is now mounted outside the Rāhotu Hotel.
This anchor from the barque Harriet recalls an epic tale of derring-do involving a middle of the night shipwreck; survival on the rugged windswept coast; intimidation and looting of the castaways by local Maori before outright battle resulted in deaths on both sides; the kidnapping of the Captain John Guard's wife, Betty and their young children; their almost certain death before being given protection by a chief's wife.
Meanwhile John Guard and the remaining crew were taken prisoner and escorted to Ngamotu to be released upon payment of a ransom.
Six month's later Guard returned to the area, with two ships including a British man of war, three officers and 60 men, broke all established protocols to successfully rescue his wife and children from the Maori with significant loss of life and the razing of three pa.