MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1938, Page 10

MAORI MEMORIES

INDIGENOUS “ANIMALS.”

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”)

The botanist finds wonder and delight in the number and variety of indigenous plants of New Zealand. He may well be startled to find that in a country so well provided for their support by climate, soil, and natural food for animal life, there should be only one order of indigenous mammals, and they were of a peculiar type. The Kekeno (short tailed bat) peculiar to New Zealand, is of interest to naturalists as it has strange differences seen in no other species. This little creature is fast disappearing. They were found in hundreds in the hollows of fallen trees' and destroyed by bush fires. Over six centuries ago when the Maoris first landed, they brought dogs and rats. The rat soon took toll of eggs and birds. The dog resembled the collie and was bred by the Maori in vast numbers for food, reproducing ten times more quickly than sheep. They lived principally on fish. In 1773 Captain Cook brought three pigs and on his cute suggestion these were made strictly Tapu by the Ariki, thus ensuring their increase. In 1862 when Hochste.tter visited New Zealand, pigs were a menace to farmers. On one large property three men killed 25,000 pigs in less than two years and were paid a royalty on production of the tails. The squatters were puzzled to find an increase in the number of bobtailed pigs! The Pakaka (sea leopard) and the Wakaha (sea lion) were frequent visitors to these balmy shores from the icy seas. The Pakaka was a dangerous savage. The Wakaha roared like a lion, was fierce, and over the tussock country could outrun an athletic man. The sea elephant was big and clumsy. The old ones had a jaw much like an elephant’s trunk.