OTIRA’S MEANING

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 August 1923, Page 3

OTIRA’S MEANING

WHERE EXPERTS DIFFER The argument as to the exact meaning of “Otlra,” is being continued in various parts of the Dominion. Writing to a Christchurch contemporary “J.E.W. (Kaiapoi)” said: “In the Year Book for 1919, in the list of Maori place names of the Dominion, Otira is given “0” as a prefix and “Tira” a company of travellers, a file or row of persons, etc. At the time the name came to be used —subsequent to 1864 —the road was a well-beaten trek or track for the feet of the crowds of men plodding a weary way to the attractions of the Westland goldfields.”

Another correspondent wrote: The meanings of many Maori place names seem impossible to discover. In many instances the name was given away back in the past on account of some now forgotten incident which occurred at the particular spot named.

Your correspondent G.R. states that one authority gives Otira as meaning “Out of the Sun.” I cannot imagine this as being quite correct. Tira certainly means rays of light, but 0 means of, belonging to. Tira also has several other meanings, as a company of travellers, a staff or pole, etc.

Mr. Wilford’s interpretation may possibly be correct if you make two words of it, and call it Oti ra. Oti (not only in the North Island, but all over New Zealand) means finished and Ra is a word often used to give greater emphasis to statements. Even so, to make real sense of it, it would be necessary to place the word Kua before it. It would then read Kua Oti Ra, “It is finished.” One of the speakers at the Progress League’s banquet suggested that it meant 0 Tira, i.e., “Belonging to Tira.” This also may be correct, but if so it. should be two separate words 0 (of, belonging to), and Tira (the name of some person). The real meaning of the complete word Otira is “But.” “But, at the same time.” It is not, however, the “But” which is used after a negative. It would be used in a sentence such as this: “Yes, I will agree to do so, but you must also do your part.”

I doubt whether any living person can tell the real reason why this particular spot was named Otira, and I think it is useless to worry over it.