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| Pied Shag drying its wings on a convenient rock. Whakatane Heads. Source: Author (2017). |
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| Aerial view of Whakatane Heads, 1944, showing outcrop of hard rocks subject to slower rates of erosion than surrounding sandy coastline. Source: LINZ/www.retrolens.nz (2017). |
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| Detail of above photo, showing shore platform formed by wave erosion of outcrop. In the top right hand are visible near vertical sedimentary beds showing deformation. Source: LINZ/www.retrolens.nz (2017). |
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| Statue of Wairaka at Whakatane Heads, atop the rock Turuturu-Roimata. Source: Author (2017). |
While the Eastern Bay of Plenty is renowned for it's long sandy beaches and shallow harbours and sand-bars, Whakatane is unique for the rocky headland forming one side of the Whakatane river-mouth. Here can be seen rocky cliff faces and outcrops, forming a majestic backdrop to the statue of Wairaka, one of the voyagers from Hawaiki. The rock Turuturu-Roimata forms a pedestal for Wairaka, while smaller rocks make favored resting and drying spots for the pied-gannets. If
you look closely at the outcrops that may appear solid as rock, you will find
they are in fact brittle, sheared, and deformed, telling a story of their long
journey from a distant time and place, and the forces they have endured on the
way.
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| Typical outcrop of mélange. Whakatane Heads. At the top of the outcrop (approx 3m. high) can be seen deformed and fractured beds of mudstone alternating with sandstone, formed by deposits from underwater landslides settling on an ancient ancient seafloor. Source: Author (2017). |
