In 1900 the late Sir Apirana Ngata made a tour of the Waikato district and as a result wrote a most fascinating and acute report of his thought and impressions for the magazine Pipiwharauroa. It is an invaluable document for those interested in the state of Waikato around the turn of the century, and also shows how highly Ngata's literary talent was developed at the age of twenty-five. We are reprinting the full report, accompanied by what we believe is the first English translation ever published. The first half appears in this issue; the second half, concentrating on the King Movement of the time, is to be printed in issue 18. WAIKATO OF A HUNDRED TANIWHAS by Sir Apirana Ngata “Koia nei te he o te manu rere noa. He topa mai kaore kau he tauranga e …!” He mama ia te manu ki te haaro haere i nga takiwa nei, ki te whakahou i nga tirohanga kanohi o nga ra ka huri nei, i miharo ai te nga-kau ki nga ahua o era wahi o era wahi. Ko tenei e Te Pipiwharauroa reia atu e koe i te Rohe Potae o Tuhoe ki Te Kuiti, ki Tarawera, ki Tauwhare, ki Waahi, mauria atu te aroha ki a Waikato, ki a Maniapoto, ki nga hoa kakari o ko tata ake nei. Tenei ka huri ake, e noho Waikato Tenei te ngakau mihi, tenei te tangi nei “Ah woe is the bird of passage, It just soars on high with nowhere to land”. With swift wings a bird flies over these lands to view again familiar landscape delighting the heart with its ever changing forms. You Te Pipiwharauroa will fly from the Domain of Tuhoe to Te Kuiti, to Tarawera, to Tauwhare, and to Waahi carrying with you esteem and regard for Waikato and Maniapoto foes of yesterday. “We are departing, farewell Waikato Our hearts are full of praise, tears of joy well up We are exceedingly grateful For all your kindnesses to us and others.”