HAUNTED RANGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21931, 15 October 1934, Page 12

HAUNTED RANGE

THE SPIRIT OF TARAPIKAU MAORIS STILL INFLUENCED AN OLD-TIME LEGEND [from OUR OWN correspondent] HAMILTON,, Sunday The tragedy at Rangitoto recalls an old Maori legend that the Rangitoto Ranges are haunted by one of the patupaiarehe—the fairies of Maori lore —a demon of evil influence named Tarapikau. According to Mr. Andrew Wilson, of Hamilton, who spent many years in surveying the Rangitoto blocks, the Maoris believed that Tarapikau occupied Ranginui Hill, the highest point in the Rangitoto Ranges. He and another powerful spirit, Whanawhana, who lived on the To Aroha Mountain, quarrelled over a female spirit named Kahu. One day, when Tarapikau was perched in a totara tree sunning himself on Ranganui, Whanawhana flung a spear at him. The spear missed Tarapikau, but caused him to fall to the ground. As he did so Tarapikau grunted, and Whanawhana knew he had not hit him. The missile grew into a tea-tree. Tarapikau was very strong and could wrench trees out by the roots and throw great stones down the hill as though they were pebbles. When ho was angry and stamped his feet the hills shook. Later Tarapikau turned into a shag and frequented a lake whieli it is believed existed on top of the Rangitoto Ranges. Tho lake was the source of the Waipa River, which at present emerges from a gorge near the Davenport homestead and meanders along a pebbly bottom through Rangitoto, Otewa, Otorohanga and Pirongia until it joins the Waikato at Ngaruawahia. Mr. Wilson said that Tarapikau was believed to be a cannibal and to have eaten a number of Maoris who were known to have been lost in the bush. During Mr. Wilson's stay at Rangitoto 25 years ago the legend of Tarapikau was firmly believed by tho Maoris of the Maniapoto tribe, and even to-day Maoris will not venture alone in the bush. When lie and two Maoris wore Camped out at Rangitoto 25 years ago, they heard a pig squeal. Mr. Wilson remarked that the noise was made by Tarapikau. Next morning the Maoris left him. The missing native for whom the police are searching is a Ngapuhi of only a year's residence ill the district, and he may not know that the Rangitoto Ranges arc haunted. Mr. Wilson stated that the hills of Rangitoto are rough and heavily wooded. To the east of Rangitoto is the Pukeokahu Range, and beyond that is tableland, which extends as far as Taupo. The soil is not good, and settlers have spent many thousands of pounds in trying to make it productive. In the process they destroyed thousands of acres of valuable bush, which, in his opinion, would have given them a better return than grazing. - H