ANCIENT MAORIS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1933, Page 7

ANCIENT MAORIS

LINK • ' DISCOVERED

Origin of northern Tribe

AUCKLAND, April 4, Evidence of the -culture ehjbyed id former year,s by the Maoris- who inhabit the Waima Valley, an the Hokiangft County ; was referred to on Satui'day bv the Minister of Native company with the Prime Minister, the Ht. Hon. G. W. Forbes, -he was inspecting the work carried out by the natives under -the land consolidation scheme. . Sir Apirana Ngata said that the tribe occuping the Waima Valley was known .at Te Mahurehure. There were the clearest traditions that the settlement was named after an ancient village and valley in Tahiti. Thi s was called 'Waima-tuhi-rangi, which was also the settlement of Te. Mahurehure. Thi,s.h e considered was a- clear case of transplantation from the eastern Pacific.

“It has produced somt of the most learned and most notable Maoris 01 the North,” added Sir Apirana. “Home Mihi T.nyhai, father of one of theleading chiefs here to-day, was one ot the most learned in the lore and traditions of the Ngapuhi tribe 1 , and he was one of the earliest representatives of the. Northern Maori district in Parliament. Three yearn ago when I visited the Hokia.nga district to initiate the deve'opment schemes this people- held aloof ; but it is now one l of the keenest.”