MAORI PLACE-NAMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21503, 29 May 1933, Page 13

MAORI PLACE-NAMES

Sir, —In reply to the letter by "Wondering," according to some tradition, tho Tainui canoe, when cruising around to reach tho west coast, called in to Auckland, about 1350 A.D. Hotunui, the navigator, saw the poliutukawa trees in blossom, not a few trees, but one mass of forest as far as the eye could see. The people of the canooj saw this, and the peaceful surroundings brought tears to their eyes, hence Wai-o-tc-mata of the eyes). Boi, tears; mata, eye. Waitemata (watery eyes). The latter is now tho name of Auckland Harbour. Ruataupare.

Sir, —In "Wondcring's" letter of tho 25th, regarding above, I think the naming of Otahuhu as Tahuhu's home is the correct one, literally "of or belonging to Tahuhu." It cannot mean "tho place of ridgepoles," for then "tahuhu" should be preceded by the plural prefix "onga"—Ongatahuhu; neither can it mean "the eating of tho huliu," for both vowels in ota—to cat raw—are short vowels, whereas in Otahuhu they are both long. "Waitemata" as tho word stands, does not mean anything but like Bunnythorpc, which can be cut up to mean "the rabbit belonging to Mr. Thorpe," so "wai" in the former word becomes water, and "mata," with the emphasis on the final vowel as it is, means as given in our songs of tho ancestors the same as tuliua, the razor-edged splinter of dark obsidian, with which tho Maori women of olden times were wont to cut themselves about with as a mark of grief on the death of some near relative. There may bo some connection between the abovo and the meaning "Waters of Te Mata," as quoted by your correspondent. As to how the word was translated to mean "shining waters" has always been' a puzzle to us born in tho language. E.P.U.