WHO WAS TOI ?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 256, 10 January 1941, Page 5

WHO WAS TOI ?

GLIMPSE. INTO THE PAST

EARLIEST WHAKATANE

We take pleasure in quoting from the last issue oi the children's paper known as the Standard IV Star# printed and circulated at the Wha-t katane School, the story of Toi, the earliest known inhabitant to make" this cove li'is home. The story which, was compiled from notes submitted tlie editor (C. Sullivan) by. Mr C. G. Southev reads:—

Toi-te-Tautahi is a name well-* known throughout Polynesia, particularly in Tahiti, Raratonga and iS'ew Zealand. Toi lived, in Tahiti about A,I). 1150. This was eight generations or 200 years before the arrival of the Main Fleet—the Matatua, Arawa, etc. Canoes came from another Island named Tuhua, thought to be Oahu in • HawaiL Canoe sailing races were held and Wliatonga, Toi's grandson, entered his canoe in the race and was blown , out to sea. Later a fog came down and Whatonga lost all sense of direction. For some years he dwelt on Ra'iatea (Rangiatea). When Whatonga did not return Toi set out in search of him. He visited many, islands and at last decided to inakei l'ar the land which had beeil discovered by Kupe, using sailing direc-'tions-which Avere known in Tahiti.) - Toi is said to have taken with hfera f)0 persons of whom few, if any, were-women. He discovered the Chatham Islands and owing to the coldness of the climate knew he was too far south. He altered his course reaching New Zealand at T'amaki. Toi stayed there for some time, some af his men marrying the women of the local inhabitants. Later Toi decided to explore the country naming Tuhua (Mayor Island) after the islands mentioned above. He finally settled at Kapu-le-Rangi (Whaka-» tane), the oldest Polynesian" pa in New Zealand. This became Toi's home, his men intermarrying with the inhabitants. Let us return ftofc Whatenga. In .time he returned to Tahiti ahd learned that Toi had set out to search for him, and had gone to Kupe's. discovery, Tiritiri-o-te-Moana. Whatonga took with him 66 men and women and a, canoe named Te Hawai, after preparation for the voyage re-named Kurahaupo. He called at Raratonga to learn that Toi had sailed from there to Tirjtiri-o-te-Moana. He sailed for this land and made his landfall near the North. Cape, passing down the West Coast to land at Tonga-iPorutu. (40 miles north of New Plymouth). x Oni enquiring the whereabouts of Toi he was told that he lived at Whaka-t tane. Whatonga reached Maketn from where he was shown KoM' Point as being the place where Toi lived. Whatonga travelled to Whale Island where lie met a canoe from | the mainland. A message was sent I to Toi and the re-union took place, on Whale Island. The party_ pro- ! ceeded to Wh'akatane, Whatonga liv ing there for some time. Finally he went with some of his followers! i to the Poverty Bay and Hawke's Bay districts. Descendants of Toi's and Whatonga's men were very numerous and soon obtained the leading position in the country. Toi lived to a great age and local tradition has it that he was buried in a swamp at Ohope. Throughout Polynesia'he is known as Toi-le-Hautahi but ! irt New Zealand he is usually referred to as Toi Kai Rakau Le, Toi whoi *

lived on the forest —had no cultivated food plants.

Whatonga is said to have ended his days at Kapiti Island.