Ancient Names on Waitaki River

Te Ao Hou, September 1965, Page 52

Ancient Names on Waitaki River Returning to the Waitaki River and travelling eight or nine miles down from the junction of the Ohou River, we find on the southern side Te Parikarakaraka, the echoing cliff. Further down, past the Te Kara stream, we come to Te Pari-o-waka-taka-kura or ‘the red cliffs that change their direction’. They are known today as Goose-neck Bend. A mile or so further on is Te Anawhakairo, ‘the cave of carvings,’ then Te Wahi-tatari ‘the visiting place’—that is, the place where parties of travellers used to meet. Further downstream is Te Awa-ataahua or Te Awa-ataka, ‘the beautiful river’, then we reach Te Ana-o-kaitaoka, ‘the cave of ovens where the food was burnt.’ To the east of this is Oteuku, ‘the bill of white clay’, now known as Sugar Loaf Hill. Then onwards to Te Ana-haruru, ‘the cave of vibrations,’ so called because a party of Maoris were resting there when Te Ruamoko, god of earthquakes, was moving around underground. Away in the distance stands Pass Peak, once known as Te Kaihikihiki, ‘the food bearer’. This used to be a route to the West Coast. Otematata Saddle was known to the old people as Otematakou and also as ‘the pass of Tauahuriri’ (a famous Ngai Tahu chieftain). West of the Otematakou Saddle the first stream was formerly known as Te Maukatipua, ‘the mountain demons’, though this was later changed to Otamatapio, ‘a green uncooked plant’. As the Waitaki River turns to the east we find a certain rock named Te Papaka-o-huruhuru, ‘the resting-place of Huruhuru’. Nearby is Parsons Rock, formerly Te Ikaraeroa, ‘a lofty headland’. This is another name of ancient Arai-te-uru origin. Te Hakataramea River gives its name today to the town of Hakataramea. This name is said to commemorate a dance which took place there long ago, in which the dancers wore sachets made from the skins of laughing owls (whekau) and filled with the sap of the sweet-scented taramea stalks. A bridge over the Waitaki connects Hakataramea with Te Kohurau, ‘the place of a hundred mists’, now known as Karou. These and a great many other names recall

the lives of all those who lived and hunted in this area throughout the ages, over a period of time stretching back far beyond the arrival of the ‘Great Fleet’ 600 years ago. Among the other remaining tokens of this long history are the rock paintings and other relics which have been discovered in many places.