ROTORUA AND OTHER LAKES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17151, 3 May 1919, Page 1 (Supplement)

ROTORUA AND OTHER LAKES.

THE COMING OF THE MAORIS.

BT LIEUT. K. H. A. EHAU.

Rotorua-nui-a-Kahu is a name loved, respected, and cherished by all Arawas. They speak of it with tenderness, reverence, and awe. From time immemorial no one had disputed the Arawa's ownership to this vast sheet of water that has been his for generations. Food had it produced to him in abundance, and his larder it had replenished in plenty. Refuge and protection had it afforded him and his. His very kith and kin lie secure under its very snores and in the embrace of its depths and island rocks. Little wonder, then, he loves and reveres it. _ A query as to its name will elicit the immediate reply that it is Rotorua-nui-a-Kahn. Such had his ancestors known it, I and by that name had his elders called it, and by that name, and that name only, will he know it or have it called. Rotorua | or Rotonui he will resent and spurn. The origin, meaning, and significance of the name makes instructive and interesting reading. Kahu is short for Kahumatamomoe, of whom much will bo heard later. As the name indicates, Rotorua-nui aKahu means Rotorua for_ which Kahu had affection. He so named it on account of its similarity to a locality. wh'ch 1 tradition tells us existed in Tawaiki, called Rotorua. ''

| The Migration from Hawalki. Dissensions, strife, tribal fends, and quarrels peculiar to all insular communities were the primary causes of the migration from Hawaiki. All had more or less suffered from the effects and consequences of incessant warfare. No particular faction had succeeded in gaining the absolute mastery. The desire for peace and peaceful living had permeated and engulphed the survivors. Masterly, glowing, and enthusiastic accounts had been given by Te Ngahue of his discovery of a new land beyond the seas where peace reigned supreme. Tamatekapua, far-seeing, ambitious, and adventurous, lost no time. He ordered the immediate construction of a vessel to carry him and his followers to this land of promise. With Tntaara and Hauhau-te-rangi, precious axes shaped from the block of greenstone Te Mahue brought with him ; in the hands of experts and skilful men such as Rataa, Wahieroa,

ind Parata a canoe was soon hewn and completed. This "as To Arawa, from which we take our name. Then were constructed and completed Tainui, Matatiia, Takitimu, Kurahaupo, Tokomaru, Matawhaoraa, and others. Te Arawa left at dawn. Mighty men were there comprising the complement of that canoe, there were seventy souls all told. Tamatekapua commanded. Ngatoroirangi, the great high priest, whose lineage reverted back to ie Hekctanga-a-Rangi or the migration from heaven, and his wife, Kearoa, were of that number. Hei, Tia, Makaa, Oro Ika, Taikehu, Kurapoto, Uruika, names of renown and awe amongst the Arawas, accompanied that band. No tribal gods were carried on that voyage, Had they not the great high priest on board.' He who changed the stars of. the evening into those of the morning? The gods had their retreat with Kuiwaiand Haungaroa, sisters of the high priest, who elected to remain in Hawaiki with Manaia, the husband of the former. Mona and Keti are names unknown to the Arawas. These have been mentioned and have appeared in print as being sisters of Ngatoroirangi, and it is a peculiar fad that none of our genealogies show them or even allude to them. The voyage proved stormy, tempestuous and full of incident. Land was found at VThangaparaoa in the Poverty Bay district In course of time Ithe canoe coasted along the shore north, whence it turned back to Tauranga and then MaketuThere a settlement'sprang up and numbers increased and multiplied. Before landing Tamatekapua's appropriation of the land by naming or "Tapa" had taken place. Tamatekapua's appropriation commenced at Okurei (Maketu Heads). Kahumatamomoe appropriated Motiti, Tai Rangiuru, Hei Waitaha. Time passed and a quarrel arose between Tuhoromatakaka and Kahumatamomoe, sons of Tamatekapua, over the nrecious eardrop Kaukaumatua. This occasioned Tamatekapua's removal to Moehau, where he died and was laid to rest. Kahumatamomoe exploited his father's appropriation and explored inland. Eventually he came upon a sheet of water to ■which he gave the name Rotorua-nui-a-Kahu. His peregrinations led him fur Iher into the interior, as his marks there are known to the present day.

Lake Taupo. Tai. meantime had left on a similar expedition. He went to Papamoa, through Mangorcwa, Patetere, Te Tokoroa, Whaka- : maru, Maraeroa and on to Karangahake. The later is a high precipitous bluff which

i stands majestic from the edge of the lake I now known as Taupo. This Tia eallec I Taupo-nui-a-Tii'.. Its meaning is obvious i Taupo cherished by Tai. We are told thai | a spot of similar name existed in ancient ! Hawaiki. Tni's exploration extendec I north of the lake and in the Tatua Bloc! | are the Mama hills which he named re i snectively Maroanuiatia and Maroaitiatia. Itii lust'davs were spent at Titiraupongr where he died and was laid to rest. Nga toroirangi removed to To Awa-o-tc-Atua 01 Matata, from whence he commenced a so journ through Te Haehaenga. Tarawera the eastern shore of Taupo to Tongnriro. Snow covered that mountain. He essayed a climb and succeeded in reaching the sum mit, but not without discomfort and mis 1 fortune. The elements bad frozen him U j the marrow. An invocation to the gods a< Hawaiki received instant response. Waf j he not of those whose descent is of heaven' S Fire was sent to him by way of Whakaari Moutohora, Okakaru,' Rotoehu, Rotoiti I Rotorua, Tarawera, Paeroa, Orakeikorako I Taupo and Tokaanu. Here we have th< j continuous chain of thermal activitj j throughout the whole Te Arawa district The fire reached the high priest on Tonga I riro where it blazed into a vole? no. H< I revived, descended and returned ,to Ma i ketit . Meanwhile domestic relations amongst i i some of those at Hawaiki bad not mover i strictly in accordance with the recognisec 1 ethics of true wedded bliss. Kuiwai hac I by mischance produced undercooked fooc i ]to her lord and master Manaia. This sc i enraged him, that he cursed her, and be > cause of hostilities prior to the migratior ■ from Hawaiki. and the great high pries! - ' her brother as well. Shamed, mortified I i remoised, sin- fled the ancient insular homi . j with her sister Haungaroa, borne on theii I I journey bv the tribal gods which now foi ■ ' the first time left those shores in searcl ! search of the high priest. The womei '; reached Wliakaari, and guided by thi ' chain of steam already commanding the s skies arrived at Tonganro. Failing to fine ' their brother there a return was made - and the fall of time found them at Maketi - ! with their hrother. Here plans were de J ! vised, and schemes prepared for avenginf V the curse of Manaia, upon which hangs th< • tale of the despatch of the first expedition f ' ary forces from these shores. '_. | Lake Rotoiti. !', Kfthumatamomoe had returned to Maketi » ' He now proposed to colonise the district ,1 ' explored. Ihanga, his son-in-law, set onl . thither on a hunting tour. This led bin c through Hakomiti. the outlook of which in rariparitetai. From thence be viewec „ a long narrow strip of water which h< , named Te Rotokite-a-Ihenga (the lake dis ' covered bv Ihenga). A sojourn to thi a west brought him to Rotorua-nui-a-Kahu :. news of which had been reported to th< ' settlement at Maketu. Five generation! a »assed when the children of Rangitihi, o The line of Kahumatamomoe, spreac II throughout the whole of the Lake District ,1 " and multiplied greatly. They became 1( i powerful in the land and their deeds an w over treasured by their descendants to this |. day. Oft at times, those who lived at ,p Rn'torua-nui-a-Kahu would advise Hieii PS . children, "o hither to the small lake and I see how fares your relatives there. This 1 saving became a word from whence i arose the name Te Rotoiti. (the small lake) which is the present day substitute for Te D ' , Rotokite a-Ihenra.