HAURAKI PLAINS PLACE NAMES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5401, 18 March 1929, Page 1

HAURAKI PLAINS PLACE NAMES.

9 (Written for “The Hauraki Plains Gazette ” by W. P. Wydle.) WAITAKARURU. There seems to be a great difference of opinion as to the origin of, the name of Waitakaruru. It is widely supposed to be “a place where an owl (ruru) fell into, water,” but this; ij not supported by Maoris, though no dusiinite pronouncement can be obtained. One well-versed’ Maori, asserts that the name refers to the noise mad-ej l;y a waterfall that in times gone by existed near the present site of the water supply dam. This waterfall was apparently of some size, and the nature of. the fall caused it To make a peculiar echoing sound which could at timei* be. heard at the Maori settlement that existed near l what is now known as Haley’s corner. This settlement was originally Waitakaruru and the land is now the Waitakaruru block, the; site of the present township being known as the Booms, for in the stream were situated the booms used in connection .with the timber-floating operations. Kahikatea logs were floated down the Waitakaruru stream until about 18 ago, but when the post office was established its present name was given. Another suggestion is that the name refers to- a shady waterfall, a,nd others claim that it is derived from an inCidept in a game (ruru) played by Maoris with small stores. PIPIROA Pipii’oa, literally, meansi “long pipi,” but a well-versed Maori averts that this is not altogether correct. There was a long beach where pipis were plentiful, and the o.ld-timej Maori used to come a long distance —as from the Waikator-to collect them. Naturally, after a, long journey he would stay a long time to collect a big supply. WHAKATIWAI. Whakatiwai, the district beyond New Brighton, is another descriptive uanrej, .showing, it to be a pleasant landing place where fish and shellfish were £oun£ t’o be plentiful, so it a good place to camp. TURUA. The name Turua is supposed to have, been the description of the location of. a pa between the two rivers. Very .many years ago there was * Pa a short distance up the river from the present township, and present-day Maoris acknowledge that it was the fault of a past generation that the Site, and a burial ground nearby, was not refserved. The site is now fairmland, and only slight traces of Maori oc<eupa,tion remain. A depression mentioned in, a. certain dirainage action in the Magistrate’s Court at- Thames, a few years ago is one trace. PATETONGA. Patejtonga is another description of a. pa. It was so. named because of its location on the hill above the present township, where it was expoteed to the cold south wind. KAIHERE. In the name of Kaihere is a curious example] of. the use of pure Maori and a Maori attempt to. pronounce an English word. “Kai,” food; “here,”, c herry. Until recently there was a grove of cherry trees near - Ohinewai Roiad. NGARUA. Ngarua, literally, means a. junction,-’ and may have bepn a junction of. streams or of tracks. MIRANDA. Miranda is not a Ma.oni name, but commemorates a visit by H.M.S. Miranda and H.M.S. Isaac in July, 1863.' It was learned that the Thames Maoris contemplated joining the Waikn.tos,, in the war against the whites, and these warships were sept to the gulf, to intercept them. ' However, they arrived toe. late, for the Thames warriors had landed and proceeded' towards Mangatawhiri, so the; naval party found only their ca.noes. Local natives, who had nothing to do with this, rtill smart under the. injustice done them by the confiscation of 10,000 acres of their land. The peak in bhe hills hehin I Miranda, to the top of which the irava] pairty sent observers, j s named Mt. Esk, after one of tlie leaders o f the expedition.