Me whakatāne au i ahau 'let me be like a man'. This is the most well known wānanga that has passed down recounting Wairaka's saving the Mataatua waka from crashing into the rocks at Whakatāne. She is also closely associated with the Mt Albert area where she lived for a period of time before returning to the Bay of Plenty rohe. Wairaka lived amongst numerous puna created by volcanic activity and also Auckland's largest watershed fed by Maungawhau/Te Tatua o Riukiuta and Ōwairaka. The last mountain is named after Wairaka and Te Wai-unuroa a Wairaka puna that still flows on the UNITEC grounds and Waiorea 'Western Springs', continue to be associated with the tupuna.