WHAT'S IN THE NAMES?

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 40, 3 March 1937, Page 10

WHAT'S IN THE NAMES?

Public interest in the series of articles in the New Zealand Eailways Magazine, giving the meanings of Maori uames of stations along the principal lines, has . called for a reprint of the matter in booklet form, Aa indication of the readablen&ss of the thirty-two pages is seen in the f ollowing two extracts from a single page: — Te Kuiti; A contraetion of the original name, Te Kuititanga, meaning "The Narrowing In." A name coined in the sixties, after the (Waikato War, referring to the confiscation of Waikato lands and the narrowing in of the Maori terri.tory, necessitating the dispossessed Waikato tribes taking refuge in the country of the Ngati-Ma-mapoto. Te Kuiti was the headquarters of the Maori King Tawhiao for some years after the war. The original name of the place was Tokangamutu; the large viilage here etood on the flat about half-a-mile to the south of the present railway station. Tokanga — a large basket for food; mutu, ended, or concluded. Poro-o-T&rao: The range penetrated by the railway tunnel here was named after an incident of three centuries ago. The Chief Tarao, with a party of his people, were retreating southward to the Taumarunui distriet after escaping from his besieged pa on Kawa Hill (above the present Te Kawa raiJway station). The chief was slowlv climbing the steep range ahead of hi? comrades, and his rapaki (waist-gar ment was kilted high nntil, like Gunga Pin, "the uniform 'e wore was nothin' much before, an' rather less than 'arf h' that be'ind." The sigbt of the well-bared chief amused his followers, and- from that little incident of the climb the range came to be named ' ' Te Poro-o-Tarao. " mean "The Posterior of Tarao.'"