bridge was built from Tikitiki to Waiomatatini, to the protest of local Māori who were concerned that it would disturb the taniwha. The night before the bridge was completed, a storm came washing the bridge away — the weather till then had been calm. From then, one person would drown in the river nearly every year. If it did not happen one year, two would drown the next. A local tohunga, George Gage (Hori Te Kou-o-rehua Keeti) was approached to help the situation, and after that there were no similar drownings. Marae Ruatoria has several marae belonging to Ngāti Porou hapū: Hiruharama Marae and Kapohanga a Rangi meeting house, a meeting place of Te Aitanga a Mate and Te Aowera. Te Aowera Marae and Te Poho o Te Aowera meeting house, a meeting place of Te Aowera. Te Horo Marae and Rākaitemania meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāti Horowai, Te Whānau a Mahaki and Te Whānau a Uruhonea. Kakariki Marae and Rakaihoea meeting house, a meeting place of Te Whānau a Rākaihoea. Kariaka Marae and Ngāti Porou meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāi Tangihaere and Te Whānau a Hinekehu. Mangahanea Marae and Hinetapora meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāti Uepōhatu and Te Whānau a Hinetapora. Mangarua or Te Heapera Marae and Te Poho o Mangarua meeting house, a meeting place of Te Whānau a Hinetapora. Porourangi or Waiomatatini Marae and Porourangi meeting house, a meeting place of Te Whānau a Karuai. Reporua Marae and Tū Auau meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāti Rangi. Ruataupare Marae and meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāi Tangihaere. Rauru or Taumata o Mihi Marae and Rauru Nui a Toi meeting house, a meeting place of Te Whānau a Hinekehu. Uepohatu Marae and meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāti Uepōhatu. Umuariki Marae and meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāti Uepōhatu and Te Whānau a Umuariki. In October 2020, the Government committed $5,756,639 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade 29 Ngāti Porou marae, including Te Aowera Marae, Te Horo, Kariaka, Rauru, Umariki, Mangahanea, Mangarua, Reporua and Ruataupare Marae. It also committed $273,890 to upgrade Uepohatu Marae and $232,227 to upgrade Hiruharama Marae. Education Ngata Memorial College is a Year 1–13 co-educational public school with a roll of students as of The college opened in 1959. Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Waiu O Ngati Porou is a Year 1–13