Ancient Maori Names.
The preservation of the _ Maori names of -places now occupied by Europeans would be very interesting as leading to a reminder of the change that has come o’er the spirit of the scene. It can easily bo understood the difficulty that must be experienced by people unprovided with maps how to describe to others at a distance how to know where they may be found and the beat direction to take. In this district, when the major part of the country was bush and swamps much difficulty would be experienced by Europeans to guide some stranger to the various locations. We understand that such a large river as the Manawatu was well known, but certain places on its banks Would want much explaining. Thus a native wont to what we call the “ Heads ” to fish and he desired to describe the spot, he would have said he had been to the “ Wharangi. How came this particular place to acquire its name—the place of the Wharangi—the spot where after a fiood in the river very many Wbarangis were washed down and, got deposited on the bank. It might, had the Maoris so chosen have bean called by the name of some other driftwood. This is exemplifies half-way, between the mouth of the river and Foxton there is a spot known to the Maoris as “Papangaio,” an old fishing station, simply that on a flat trees came down in a flood and lodged on the bank. It was the place where the trees on the flat, mostly “Ngaio” laid. This spot, like that at the Wharangi would be noticed by men poling their canoes up and down the river. At Foxton, or as it was known nreviously we come to the Awa Hon, as at that point a “ new stnA” had been cut ou tho banks and ran into the river. This was also an unmistakeable point. Between the New Stream and Paparmaio, on the north bank of th® river, pact of which is intersected now-a-clays by Park,Robinson, Lady s Mile and other streets, was known as “ Tepaikouuku ” the roost of the white cranes, a fact bound to ba noticed by men who had to hunt for their food. , Above Foxton a portion of the country was known as “Paretao,’ for in the bush you were sure to come across the vegetable caterpillar. Finding one of these insects in his hunt after fruit, the Maori knew where it was and in what other direction to go for certain purposes. If ha wanted to send to another part of the bush he could easily make ins listener understand by telling him to proceed to that piece of bush, (part of which is now Mr G. Nye’s farm) known as “Manukapa,” the place where the bird’s play. Many , small birds enjoyed the bush, and the little fan tail could be seen jumping from bough to bough, never still, its little call from time to time. Tha Pantail was known to the Natives as the te-i-haka, the bird thac dances and sings. Further up the river is the spot known as Haumeroa, now desecrated by a flaxmill owned by Mr Seifert. When the Maoris built their large , war canoes they were obliged to build them in three pieces, the stem and stern being fastened to the centre by lashings of flax. These now and again needed renewing and thus a good spot for beaching, and good material for lashings was needed. At Hameroa the position was secured and many a time the big canoes iver® to be found separated in three pieces, so that “ Haumearoa ” the ends of a canoe was a good illustration of the place that was intended. A little below this site, on tha ' south bank of the river a place was called, where a stream ran into the main river u Koputoroa,” which was also thoroughly descriptive, meaning as it does a long outlet. The big swamp near Shannon incorrectly abbreviated into Makerua, is rightly “ Makurirua ” or the spot having many dog holes, from its inequalities. “ Mukaka,” the hill io the Mofcoa swamp is another reminder of the change in the character of the country. We can imagine a Native advising a party after Kaka’s orAg native parrot to go to a hill amwjre . the flax, and camp, and in the early morning go to the fern ridges at the m edge of the bush, which is full of , rata trees, the blossoms of which'the kakas like to suck, take your decoys, and you will have a good time. The ; parrot has one good point, it is j either inquisitive or fearless, as if a | bird gets wounded and screams, j | kakas from right and left will make their way to a tree near the noise, *.
aand thus become victims to the 'hunters. Maoris always took a decoy kaka with them which they tied up at the foot of a tree and made to scream. The hill was known as ihe place parties camped for game, the Mukaka, or the decoy of the kaka.
If carefully considered it will be seen that the early Maori was able to denote much in a few words. We express our obligations to Mr Nye for his explanations, and trust we may, before long, be able to recall some more specimens of precise nomenclature.
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Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19021204.2.14
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Manawatu Herald, 4 December 1902, Page 2
Word count
Tapeke kupu
892Ancient Maori Names. Manawatu Herald, 4 December 1902, Page 2
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