The Ohau was a haven for wildlife, a rich food basket, anatural environment of wetlands and a place of historicaland spiritual significance. Described as a ‘paradise’especially in the warmer months. Children would spendall their time swimming against the strong current, divingoff banks, catching cockabullies in the shallows, huntingfor frogs and tadpoles in the swamps, paddling the oldMāori river canoes up and down and hunting for the bestjackstones on the beds of shingle.