Our history

The Kawiti family are the descendants of Tāwai and Martha Matekino Kawiti.

Tāwai was the great-grandson of Kawiti, a notable Māori Chief known as a formidable warrior and peace maker among his people. From birth, Kawiti was trained in the arts of warfare and leadership. He was a skilled military tactician and the architect of Ruapekapeka Pā, located 14 kilometers south-east of Kawakawa.

Nestled amongst the limestone formations in Waiōmio, a marae complex was erected on the Kawiti Glowworm Caves property by Tāwai, in loving memory of Kawiti. To honour their lineage to Tāwai, Te Riri (Tāwai’s father), Maihi (Tāwai’s grandfather) and Kawiti (Tāwai’s great-grandfather), the Kawiti family named the meeting house Tāwai Te Riri Maihi Kawiti.

The Waiomio valley was settled by Hineamaru in the early 17th century. Hineamaru, the ancestor and leader of Ngāti Hine, is famed for her fearless leadership, her agricultural skills and sharp intellect.

To provide a food source for her family, Hineamaru planted many kūmara (sweet potato) gardens in Waiomio. One day, Hineamaru and her young brothers saw smoke coming from the side of a hill and investigated. A woman, Roku, was found inside the caves entrance, warming herself by the fire. Many generations later, the Waiomio valley lands were passed down to Kawiti, a descendent of Hineamaru.

Tāwai Kawiti was an entrepreneur at heart. In the 1950s he established the Glowworm and Limestone Cave Tours. He offered a unique insight into early Māori history and culture while visitors enjoyed the stunning glow worm displays and rock formations.

Seeing the way people’s faces would light up every time he guided a tour, Tāwai knew that one day visitors would travel from all over the world to experience the natural beauty of the caves.