MAORIS' FORMER HOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21457, 3 April 1933, Page 10

MAORIS' FORMER HOME

LINK WITH TAHITI ORIGIN OF NORTHERN TRIBE Evidence of the culture enjoyed in former years by tho Maoris who inhabit the Waima Valley, in tho Hokianga County, was referred to on Saturday by tho Minister of Nativo Affairs, Sir Apirana Ngata, when, in company with tho Prime Minister, tho lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, ho was inspecting tho work carried out by tho natives under tho land consolidation scheme. Sir Apirana Ngata said that tho tribo occupying tho Waima Valley was known as To Mahurehuro. There were tho clearest traditions that tho settlement was named after an ancient villago and valley in Tahiti. This was called Waima-tulii-rangi, which was also the settlement of To Mihurchurc. This ho considered was a clear case of transplantation from tho eastern Pacific. "It has produced some of tho most learned and most notablo Maoris of tho North, 1 ' added Sir Apirana. "Hono Mohi Tawhai, father of one of the leading chiefs here to-day, was one of tho most learned in the lore and traditions of the Ngapuhi tribe, and he was ono of the earliest representatives of tho Northern Maori, district in Parliament. Threo years ago when I visited the Hokianga district to initiate tho development schemes this people held aloof, but it is now ono of tho keenest."