Ko Mahitahi te awa ngākau nui ki au.
The Maitai River invokes many memories for those who live, or have lived in Nelson, as well as visitors. I am very lucky to live adjacent to this river and, as a family, we have our own special memories of the fun we have all had in and alongside this river. The sign says local Māori include this river in their mihimihi but that is also true for many non Māori as well.
For anyone interested in knowing how Mahitahi evolved to the Maitai there is a short clip explaining this HERE
The double-sided information board tells the legend of Hina and Tunaroa and some of the history of the river and surrounding area. It also provides the numbers to find the cache at:
S 41 16.ABC E !73 18.DEF
A: Project Maitai/Mahitahi was launched in 201A
B: R. G. Branford served as a Nelson City councillor from 19B3-1971
C: The number of boys in the 1960's photo displaying their catch
D: The number of tuna (eels) the boys in the 1960's photo are displaying
E: A description of the Maitai Valley was recorded in the Colonist 30 August 18E7
F: The number of years of claims amd counter claims before an agreement was reached to secure the land in the lower Maitai for public recreational use
Checksum: A+B+C+D+E+F= 30