HOW THE MAORIS CAME.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 August 1927, Page 8

HOW THE MAORIS CAME.

EARLIEST ARRIVALS AT NEW PLYMOUTH. LONG OCEAN VOYAGES. The Maori story of New Plymouth aucl its environs was told by Mr. W. H. Skinner at a meeting of the Blue Triangle Club in. that town one day last week, says the “Taranaki Herald. ” -**< Speaking first of the entry of the Polynesians into the Pacific, Mr. Skinner said that the Maori traditions told us that their ancestors in remote times dwelt in a land called Uru, away to the westward. From this land tliev migrated, 'eastward to a hot climate country named Irihia, to which the name of Ilawaiki was now sometimes applied. Forced to leave Irihia owing to fierce and continued wars, they sought now homes across the ocean, ever steering eastward towards the rising sun. Settling for a while in a lang called Tawhiti-roa and again in Tawhiti-nui —extensive lands, aiul very Let —they at last came into the Pacific and once more followed the sea roads and six vessels reached the isle of Aliu. Such, we were told, was the origin of the Polynesian inhabitants of Aliu, Maui and Ilawaiki, which were thought to be. the islands of the Hawaiian or Sandwich* group. “Tradition also tells us,” the speaker proceeded,-“that New Zealand was first settled by castaways who had been swept away from their homeland by a westerly storm, and these were the people that the Maoris from the Central Pacific found on arrival here about 500 or more years ago, and by earlier navigators 200 years before.

“Forty generations ago—approximately the year 900 A.D.—two Polynesian deep-sea navigators, named Kupe and Ngahue, sailed from the faraway Society Group and arc said to be the discoverers of Now Zealand. Ancient traditions of the South Island seem to indicate that certain ancestors of the natives of those parts preceded Kupe in their arrival in these isles. These traditions are, however, unsatisfactory, but still the question of how long New Zealand has been inhabited is in doubt.

“Kupe’s vessel was called Mata-ho-rua, and he made the land near the North Cape. The first sign of land is said to have been a white cloud that overhung it. This was first noted by Kupe’s wife, who cried out ‘fHeao! Heao! Hcao!’ (a cloud), and so New Zealand gained its first name Ao-tea (White Cloud), afterwards lengthened to Ao-tea-roa (Long White Cloud), presumably on account of the size of New Zealand.

“After circumnavigating both islands Ivupe returned to his home in the Central Pacific, and it was on the sailing directions set out by him that the captains of the great migration from the Central Pacific about 1350, and Toi before them, shaped their .course to New Zealand.

“Turning back to the tradition just mentioned, ‘that New Zealand was first settled by castaways driven from their homeland by a great storm’;: their vague story concerning their origin, as related to the later coming Maori, is that their ancestors arrived here in three canoes, named Kahu-tara, Taikoria and Okoki (also Poho-kura it is said). These vessels had been swept away from their homeland by a westerly storm during, a fishing excursion, and after drifting across the ocean made the coast of New Zealand under the. shadow of Paritutu, landing no doubt on the sandy ueach of the bay now sheltered by the breakwater at M oturoa.

DOUBTS THROWN" ON STORY. “According to Maori tradition these people —called by 'them Mo-uri-uri—-were of a low cultural stage, but seeing they must have possessed the art of constructing vessels capable of a long deep-sea voyage, and are said to have lived in fortified villages in this district of Taranaki, they can scarcely have occupied the low plane assigned to them in Maori tradition. Be that as it may these are the people to 'whom tradition assigns the first occupation of Taranaki (and of New Zealand), covering the coast from a little south of Oakura and the Patua Ranges to Mokau and Awakino in the north. Their chief centres were Oakura, Ngan.ctu, Urenui and Tongaporutu. “The date of the Mo-uri-uri arrival lies somewhere between the voyage of Kupe, approxiamtely 900 A.D., and that of Toi and Whatonga about the year 1200 A.D. Whatonga’s canoe or vessel was called Kurahaupo, and made the land near the North Cape, sailed down the west coast as far as Tongaporutu. Stayed there with the original people for a while, going thence by sea to Whakatano, on the east coast. The Taranaki tribe claim descent from chiefs in this canoe.

“ The next event of great importance was the coming to these parts of Turi in the Aotea and Manaia in the Tokomai'u (1350 A.D.) and Whiro. The storv of Turi and Manaia is well known, but that of Whiro has only recently come to light. He was an ancestor "of the Maori folk of New Zealand who dwelt in the isles of Eastern Polynesia, apparently about six oi seven centuries ago, approximately 1275 A.D. Quarrelling with his brother lie was forced to fly, and taking to the ocean —he was a celebrated navigator made the voyage to New Zealand in his vessel, called by the Taranaki tribe Tawhiti, landing about half a mile north of the mouth of the Oakura River, and settled amongst the people the original inhabitants —for a while, find has left descendants in this locality.”

EG MO NT AND SUGARLOAVES. Mi', skinner proceeded to relate the Maori story concerning Mt. Egmont (J’ukc-haupapa, or Taranaki). . aia ' naki, who was a male, once lived m the neighbourhood of Tongariro mountain whose wife was Pihanga, a SV 1 ?, ul wooded mountain. Taranaki teli in love with Lady Pihanga. In his wrath Tongariro gave .Taranaki a tremendous, kick (the mark of which is still to be seen in the hollow under Fantham s Peak) which impelled him towards the coast. Coming to rest in his present position, he was held by the ranges, which were thrown out to seize -mm while he slept. ■ Coming to the poetic side of his sut>iect Mr. Skinner explained the Maori belief that, when mists and clouds covered the summit, Egmont was still bewailing the loss of his lover Pihanga, and the eruptions of Tongariro showed the enduring anger of the aggrieved Vhsband against his wife’s lover.

The intimate connection of Ngamotu with the mvths, traditions and history of central Taranaki was next explained by Mr. Skinner, and he gave the names and their meanings of all the Sugarloaves, with a brief story concerning each. ~ Concerning Moturoa Island, the speaker gave the following extract from an account by the Rev. J. H. Bumby of a tour in New Zealand in 1839:' “The Haupapa, or Mt. Egmont, which is said to be 18,000 ft above sea level, presented a most splendid appearance, being girded with clouds and capped with snow. We spent a few hours at Ngamotu, or Moturoa, the Sumo-loaf islands of Captain Cook. They are curiously formed rocks, separated from the mainland, and inaccessible except by water. One ot them the largest and most singular ot the cluster, rising almost perpendicular to an elevation of about 200 ft, is the site of a Native settlement. Round about the rock are numerous ridges and hd?es, either of primitive formation, or pi educed by the operation of time, which serve as terraces and habitations for the singular people who have chosen it as their craggy home. The fences, on the top and sides,_ appeared like reeds shaken with the wind. It is said there is water, but no fuel for lire and no food for sustenance. Wo called at the base of the mountain but could not land, on account of the breaking of the surf. Several natives came down to speak to us, but they were armed with muskets, and evidently afraid we had visited them, for purposes of war and desolation. Wo stated our object, cave them some books and returned to the ship.” Then follows a description of Taranaki as it used to be in ancient Maori days and the desolation of the country as then viewed 1839. In addition to other particulars concerning natural features of this locality, Mr. Skinner gave an interesting account of the fairies (Tu-rehu, or Patu-pai) in which the AJaoris believed. In the course of this he said: “The Turehu weie described as a fairskinned flaxen-haired folk, and weie beautifully built with straight uprigh: mien, but" small of stature. Their garments were like Seaweed, and _ worn only as an apron in front. Their hair fell down to their Avaists in _ thick tiesses. The description of their features is one quite different to that of the Polynesian—Grecian in fact.”