Makakaweka derives its name from woodhens that were made tapu by a tohunga. It wanders a bit and used to be called the Serpentine by the first pakeha settlers Mangahoetepuku because someone got very ill with a sore stomach – this is the stream that flows through Robinsons Waipokaka is so named after the hinau trees that used to grow along its banks Waimateatea – meaning clear waters