RUAPEHUS ANGER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 32, 2 October 1946, Page 5

RUAPEHUS ANGER

INTERESTING MAORI DEDUCTION

TAUPO’S LAKE LEVEL BLAMED

Here is an interesting Maori version of the cause of the sudden eruption of Mount Ruapehu. It was given to a BEACON representative in the course of a trip to Wellington when he discussed the Mountain with one or two authorities. As is well known Ruapehu is a sacred mountain, long cherished as a burial ground of all the notable chiefs of the Arawa Tribe, who in days gone by were taken to the crater on the top and there

given their last resting place. 23* ****••'•%****" *•' ■ Maori opinion was . strongly against the control of the water level of Lake Taupo, which the desecrating hand of the Pakeha has recently put into effect by the erection of the series of electrically controlled lochs at the outlet which gives birth to the infant Waikato river. By raising the water level, it is well known that much of the surrounding land was covered, especially at Tokaano. Maori superstition attributes the greater pressure on the lake-bed from this accumulation of waters to the eruption of Ruapehu, the mountain-God showing his anger at the tampering with his domain, by visciously erupting and blowing his ashes widespread over the adjoining countryside. They also declare that the present activity will be followed by even more potent disaster unless the lochs are removed.

Though the story is interesting for its romanticism we do not feel that there is any likelihood of the P.W.D. removing the controls at the lake entrance in order to appease the mountain’s fury.