THE PLACE-NAME HOKITIKA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21473, 22 April 1933, Page 15

THE PLACE-NAME HOKITIKA

Sir, —Apart from tho Maori manuscrips mentioned by ]\Lr. Geo. Graham, there is other documentary evidence available in support of tho statement that Hokitika is an original Maori name, and not a corrupted form of "Hochstetter." Dr. Hochstetter did not arrive in New Zealand until 1858. Brunner, the intrepid explorer of tho West Coast, in his diary under the date July, 1847, notes his arrival at "Okitika," whero he found four Maoris living, a man, two women and a child. Brunner's method of spelling tho name is due to nil insufficient knowledge of Maori, as is evidenced elsewhere in his diary; when the diggings broke out, tho port became known as "Okitika Eiver." Tho postal department records show that "a post office of the second-class was opened at Okitika in January, 1865." Mr. Townsend, Government agent, in his report to the Canterbury Provincial Council, spells tho word without tlio initial H. Likewise, Prcshaw, the banker, in his diary. Were the name in honour of Hochstetter, the writers quoted would have included the initial H instead of following Brunner's spelling. Hokitika was first spelt in its present form when a correspondent to the Canterbury Press, under date March 31, 1865, drew attention to the correct method of writing the Maori word. Dr. Von Haast named Lako Hochstetter in honour of the visit of his distinguished friend, Dr. F. Hochstetter to Canterbury, and James MacKay, who carried out tho purchase of the West Coast from its Maori landowners, gave the name Mount Hochstetter. Tho name Hokitika means "to return direct" and kindred meanings. Archdeacon Harper, in his "Letters from New Zealand," says (October 6, 1866): "1 believe Hokitika means 'when you get there turn back again,' as the Maoris regard it as the end of the earth, and hold that the souls of the dying Hit from this shore." Wherever he got that yarn! Many years ago the present writer was discussing place-names with an old Maori lady of Ngati-Mahaki, tho remnant of a tribe living far down in Southern Westland, at Bruce Bay, and she stated an early Maori explorer gave all the rivers their names. When tho Hokitika was reached his followers objected to going further south, and tho chief gave the order, "Ka Hokitika tonu" ("we will immediately go straight back", or words to that effect), and thus the river received its name. Tho Canterbury Maoris havo a legend concerning a chief's dead body that was promptly returned across the river to account for the name, but I think the story told me by Hoani Tainui, lato chief of the Araliura pa, the most feasible origin. He related the well-known tale of Haureka, the woman from tho Ngati-Wairangi pa, near the mouth of the Hokitika, who, wandering to tho source of the river, discovered Browning's Pass and, adventuring across tho Alps into Canterbury, made known to the East Coast Maori not only tho valuable greenstone, but also the path that led to it. This event was about the year 1700. He went on to say that at first tho Canterbury Maoris were peaceful and brought barter to exchange for the coveted jade, hut noting that tho West Coasters, from generations of isolation, bad lost the art of fighting, they at last Came and?took forcibly their requirements and enslaved two or three men each trip to act as bearers on the return journey, and on occasion to act as food! Gradually, a great traffic grew up, and the East Coasters discovered several passes into Westland. Although they used the various defiles for crossing into the greenstone country, invariably they returned by Baureka's Pass, because this route was more direct and was clear of the deep pools that hampered swimming with a heavy pikau on the back, a common impediment on tho other tracks. So the pass became known as Noti-lloka-Tika —pass of tho direct return —and tho name was extended to tho river. One of the alpine peaks perpetuates Baureka's name. W. P. Payne.