Kakahi ()) is a small King Country settlement about up the Whanganui River from Taumarunui, New Zealand. Founded as a sawmill town, it takes its name from the Māori word for the New Zealand freshwater mussel. Geography Kakahi can be reached from State Highway 4, and the North Island Main Trunk railway passes through it across a bridge over the Kakahi Stream; a railway station was open from 1904 to 1978. The Whanganui River and Whakapapa River meet about to the east, and a similar distance down the Whakapapa River from the end of Te Rena Road (an old logging tram line). Te Rena Road is notable for extensive colonies of glowworms along the sheer banks where the road cuts deeply through the hillside. History Early history Kakahi has a long history of Māori settlement, and four fortified pā sites. In about the 15th century, Ngāti Hotu people were defeated here by Whanganui Māori in the battle of the five forts. In February 1862 James Coutts Crawford crossed the Whakapapa River and camped across from Terena. 20th century Last century Kakahi was a King Country sawmill town, with four timber mills around the township, many tram lines for moving the timber (mainly totara). Kakahi also had three churches, one hotel (burned to the ground), one boarding house and a pool hall. The Kakahi Primary School closure had a serious impact on population numbers, the Kakahi General Store and post office, and the new Kakahi Hall. In 1906, Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Tongariro Timber Company struck an agreement for the construction of a Kakahi to Pukawa railway line, connecting the main trunk line to the shores of Lake Taupō. This was in exchange for the milling rights of of land, and other considerations. Subsequently, in 1908 a case was put to the Stout Ngata Commission over the lack of action. By May 1929 this line had still not been built and the government acquired the Tongariro Timber Company. A road was deemed at being more viable. The Tongariro Timber Company railway land was finally disposed by the New Zealand Parliament in the Māori Purposes Act. In 1922 Te Rena School is closed. In 1923 Lake Falconer Ayson, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, visits the Kakahi hatcheries, to liberate half a million Atlantic salmon fry into the Whanganui River, Whakapapa River, Kakahi Stream, Punga Punga Stream and other tributaries. These fry were successfully