ANCIENT NATIVE HISTORY

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1237, 3 July 1947, Page 2

ANCIENT NATIVE HISTORY

GENEALOGY OF THE MAORI The Tai'nui Canoe Voyagers Following is a continuation of information made available by Mr. Raureti Te Huia, and gives some particulars of the Maori voyagers who came to New Zealand in the Tainui canoe. Mr. Te Huia relates The Tainui canoe landed at Kawliia Harbour. There are 00 generations from lomatua to Hoturoa, the commander of the Tainui, who, with his fellow voyagers, settled at Kawhia in the year 1351. The first altar (Tuaahu) was established by Rakataura, and was erected at Rangi-a-hua. on the northern side of Kawhia Harbour; Ahu-rei ( the sacred liouso of learning) was also built, in which house the chiefs taught the tradition of the Tainui tribes. No slaves were allowed in the sacred house of learning, only those people of high rank, speh. as Te Upoko-Ariki and Te Kangatira, having the right of entry. Any ariki or raugatira who wished to learn the tradition of the Maori must get in touch with the tohunga (priest of the altar), and (lie priest took him to the altar before he could enter the sacred house of learning and become a member of that school-. 11l the Tainui tradition there are four schools of arts and crafts built in New Zealand They are as follow: Matangi-Rei, built by Tnri, of the Aotea canoe, situated at Patea; Ahu-Rei, built by Rakataura, of tlio Tainui c-anoe, situated at Kawhia; Te Ao-Marama, built by Tin, of the Te Arnwa canoe, situated at Titi-rau-penga (Taupo-nui-a-Tia) • and MaraeRotuliia, built by Awangaiariki, of the Tokomaru canoe,' situated at Mohaka, East Coast. There are family histories of those connected with the priest of each of these sacred houses of learning.