HOW OTAKI DERIVED ITS NAME.
(To the Editor.) bir,—ln your issue of Wednesday last, under the heading of ,"Eot; Otaki Derived its Name," the writer of the article states that a sorcerer by the name of Hon gave tho name. In my humble opinion there is no doubt he called it "Aataki," which means world search. T» saying this I would respectfully suggest to your many readers that "Hou," in his journey along the coast of 'this island in search of his wife, named all the rivers from Taranaki to Waikanae, aßd traveller; in those days invariably went by the sea shore, and not through thick scrub. It will be found upon inquiry that the rivers only were named In olden days I have many, many times heard the Maori nurses singing a lullaby, in which the names "Hou" and "Aotaki" are included. I enqtiired of the Mnaopokos and Bangltanes, who occupied Otaki about two hundred years back, long, long before the Ngatiraukawag came, and the old folk of these tribes were unanimous in raying Hou gave this place the name "Aotaki." It is said in "the article in the "Mail" that the "B." was gradually dropped. You, sir, will of eourM?. t?o*c tiiat this would leave the name Outaki, not Otaki. So far as the name of tie river here onee being Houtaki, it seems to me out of place. In any eases, Mr Editor, do ytni.not think Aotaki sounds; prettier than the pronunciation of the other name suggested, and that we should leave well alone T There are many things that could be said in support of my contention, thongh I will cot at present trespass further on -a!cable hp&ee. Jest a few words on the difference made by one letter in the spoiling of Maori names. The i=i&r.d of "Kapiti" is nearly aiwaya spelt this way. This is wrong, and has no meaning fl»o$ spelt and pronounced. The proper wst to spell the name at the island is "Sa"pnii," and I think it -suras aj near a* the Maori of the esrly days eoald pro-noane-e "cup of tea" among tie old whalers at "Kagtsti" »la3sL~l am, ebi., " ~--~ ~~ £-' 7 r '~-
A. 3. KNOCKS. Te Pari, OtaSd, Sept. 4th, 1312.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OTMAIL19190905.2.9.1
Bibliographic details
Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 5 September 1919, Page 2
Word Count
371HOW OTAKI DERIVED ITS NAME. Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 5 September 1919, Page 2
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