Lake Mouth Closes at Right Moment Throughout the ages, the mouth of Wairarapa Moana has paid homage to its eel migration by obligingly closing its mouth at the end of February or the beginning of March. Legend records that Rakai Uru, the taniwha who is the caretaker of the lake, is responsible for this seasonal closing. Rakai Uru takes the form of a large totara log. When the migration is about to take place he makes a journey out to sea, and the mouth of the lake closes behind him. Legend also mentions that the taniwha Rakai Uru pays a visit to Lake Ellismere in the South Island. After Wairarapa Moana has been closed for about a week, the eels begin to migrate downstream. There are four species of eels (tuna). They are the hao (also known to the local Maoris as the King eels), the riko, the paranui and the kokopu tuna.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/TAH196506.2.16.3
Bibliographic details
Te Ao Hou, June 1965, Page 37
Word Count
153Lake Mouth Closes at Right Moment Te Ao Hou, June 1965, Page 37
Using This Item
E here ana ngā mōhiotanga i tēnei whakaputanga i raro i te manatārua o te Karauna, i te manatārua o te Māori Purposes Fund Board hoki/rānei. Kua whakaae te Māori Purposes Fund Board i tōna whakaaetanga ki te National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa kia whakawhanake kia whakatupu hoki ā-ipurangi i tēnei ihirangi.
Ka taea e koe te rapu, te tirotiro, te tā, te tiki ā-ipurangi hoki i ngā kai o roto mō te rangahau, me ngā whakamātau whaiaro a te tangata. Me mātua kimi whakaaetanga mai i te poari mō ētahi atu whakamahinga.
He pai noa iho tō hanga hononga ki ngā kai o roto i tēnei pae tukutuku. Kāore e whakaaetia ngā hononga kia kī, kia whakaatu whakaaro rānei ehara ngā kai nei nā te National Library.
The Secretary Maori Purposes Fund Board
C/- Te Puni Kokiri
PO Box 3943
WELLINGTON
Waea: (04) 922 6000
Īmēra: MB-RPO-MPF@tpk.govt.nz
Information in this publication is subject to Crown copyright and/or the copyright of the Māori Purposes Fund Board. The Māori Purposes Fund Board has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online.
You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study. Permission must be obtained from the board for any other use.
You are welcome to create links to the content on this website. Any link may not be done in a way to say or imply that the material is other than that of the National Library.
The Secretary Maori Purposes Fund Board
C/- Te Puni Kokiri
PO Box 3943
WELLINGTON
Phone: (04) 922 6000
Email: MB-RPO-MPF@tpk.govt.nz