that area, but to deny knowledge of carving, canoe building, and house construction with New Zealand timber to Kahungunu, who is said to have come in Takitimu. The Ngati-Awa of Whakatane, the Whakatohea of Opotiki are closely related to the Te Kaha, East Coast and Poverty Bay tribes. The intercourse between the Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay tribes is a recognised feature of tribal history. They were all Toi people—Toi-kairakau was the ancestral root of all land tribes. The Wairoa and Hawkes Bay Ngati Kahungunu were founded from Gisborne. We find Te Uaterangi, who some say was a Hawkes Bay ancestor, engaged in carving a house at Taupo and it was there that one Riripo, an Arawa, “stole his chisel” (stole the art of carving) and met his death by falling or leaping from a cliff—Te Pari-o-Riripo.

The Arawa carving style can be traced to Ngati Awa In 1929 I inspected the carved house at the Spa, Taupo, and I thought that I recognised characteristics of East Coast carvings in the form of the head and other features. On enquiring I found that the carvings had been done for Hoani Meihana, a chief of Oruanui, in the eighties by one Wero of Ngati-Hinemihi of the Rotorua District. I followed this up and ascertained that Wero was Left: Typical of the old Tatanaki style, this carving from a lintel found at Awakino is now in the Auckland Museum. (Peter Blanc Photograph)