TAINUI’S GRAVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 February 1934, Page 7

TAINUI’S GRAVE

A MAORI DOUBT. At the northern entrance to the town of Greymouth is a plot of ground, fenced by wooden rails, and it is the popular belief that within this plot, rests the remains of Mauri chief, Tainui, after whom Tainui Street is named. Before the white man came to the West Coast, Maori tribes travelled across from Canterbury, and fought the natives of the West Coast, for possession of the greenstone that was to be found in abundance here. A story was told to' a “Star” reporter this morning, by two direct descendants of Tuhuru, one-time noted chief, who came from Canterbury with his warriors, in search of the greenstone. Tuhuru was captured by the West Coast tribe, at Ngahere, which in Maori means “tied up.” From Ngahere Tuhuru was taken to Runanga, the “meeting place,” and there condemned to die, at the stake. To Runanga, came a Maori princess from Greymouth, presumably to be “in at the death,” but she fell in love with Tuhuru, and cut away the thongs that bound him to the stake. Together they -went to Cobden, or in the Maori, “Aromahana,” and there became man and wife. This princess was the direct female descendant of the ruling chief at the time, and the land he possessed reverted to her. It is not the eldest male that inherits the parents’ possessions, but the eldest child. Tuhuru’s first child was a daughter, Nihorere. and that daughter’s eldest child was a female. And so the line carried on with females as the eldest child, right down to the present day. Tuhuru and his wife had three children, Nihorere, and the two sons Tarapuhi, and Werita, who was the youngest. Werita, it is stated, ran away to Canterbury instead of staying to fight on his father’s side, against invading

tribes. When the wars were over, Werita returned, but he had changed his name to Werita Tainui. Tainui means “big tide.” And that, the reporter was informed, was how the name Tainui came about. According to the Natives met to-day, Iziah Tainui, a son of Werita was not buried in Greymouth, but his remains are at Arahura. In the grave at the northern approach to Greymouth, were buried, Tuhuru, his wife and their children, Nihorere, Tarapuhi, and Werita, but the name “Tainui.” adopted by Werita, is on the plate, yet the correct name should be Tuhuru. Tuhuru belonged to the Ngatiwaiwai tribe, and his wife’s name was Papakura. On occasions such as the visit of Royalty to New Zealand, .and the calling for a gathering of natives, it is the direct descendants of Tuhuru that are invited to represent the Ngatiwaiwai tribe. To-day, Mrs Tiparo Meihana, and Mrs Iripihawai Feary left for the hui at Waitangi, which commences next Tuesday. Mr Rurori Tauwhare, of Greymouth, a direct descendant of Tarapuhi was also invited, but ill health prevented him from accepting tbe invitation.