Ruakituri

Ruakituri is a rural area in the northern Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's eastern North Island, located north of Wairoa and west of Gisborne. The 2013 New Zealand census recorded 708 people living in the Ruakituri-Morere area.

The community is centred around the Ruakituri River, which merges with the Hangaroa River to form the Wairoa River. The largest settlement is Te Reinga, at the junction of the two rivers, about 25 km north of Wairoa. This settlement is named after the Te Reinga falls, which are just below the junction.

In the eighteenth century, there was a pā called Wharekopae at Te Reinga, inhabited by Tutaki and Puraho. When Tutaki was murdered by Puraho, Ngaherehere helped Tutaki's son Tamaroki get revenge and then established himself as the dominant rangatira in the area.

There are two marae (local Māori meeting grounds) in the area. Erepēti marae is affiliated with the iwi (tribe) of Ngāti Kahungunu and its hapū (sub-tribe) of Ngāti Hingānga / Te Aitanga o Pourangahua, and includes the wharenui (meeting house) of Pourangahua. Te Reinga Marae is a meeting ground for the iwi Ngāti Kahungunu and its hapū Ngāti Hinehika and Ngāti Kōhatu, and includes the wharenui of Tuarenga.

Education
Ruakituri School is a Year 1-8 co-educational state primary school. It is a decile 7 school with a roll of as of