TheProw.org.nz - Ngā Kōrero o Te Tau Ihu

Myths and Legends of Te Tau Ihu

Contents 1 Myths and Legends of Te Tau Ihu 2 Related Stories 3 Further sources 3.1 Books 3.2 Articles 3.3 Web Resources

The myths and legends of Te Tau Ihu tell of significant events in the history of the region. Some are Polynesia-wide legends, including creation myths, adapted to local landscapes; others are parables to identify or protect valuable resources, or sagas which glorify human qualities prized by Maori. Some stories act as an aide-memoire to recall ancestors and events of the Hawaiki homeland; others are oral maps for the guidance of travellers. Some well known ones are:

The creation myths which explain the origins of the South Island, and the names for Nelson-Marlborough - Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka a Aoraki or Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka a Maui.

The legend of Ngahue and Poutini, an oral map which identifies significant stone resources in Te Tau Ihu.

Stories of taniwha which challenged Maori ingenuity and courage especially Ngarara Huarau, known in tribal traditions throughout New Zealand and Polynesia, a monster who terrorized local communities; he features in legends based at Moawhitu, Rangitoto (D'Urville Island), Wainui, Mohua (Golden Bay), and Karauripe (Cloudy Bay). Kaiwhakaruaki, another terrible taniwha known across the Pacific, inhabited the Parapara Inlet in Golden Bay, and Tutaeporoporo was an enormous shark caught in Tasman Bay who later preyed on human travellers on the Whanganui River.

There are stories of very early visitors to Te Tau Ihu from Hawaiki. Makautere and Tapuae-o-Uenuku landed at Waipapa on the Kaikoura Coast, and named many rivers, mountains and other features. Kupe, whose exploits are known throughout Aotearoa and beyond, travelled on the Matahourua in pursuit of a giant octopus which was interfering with his fishing in Hawaiki. His journey took several years, and he finally dispatched the octopus at Whekenui (named for the event) in Tory Channel. Hundreds of traditional place names in Te Tau Ihu derive from Kupe's visit.

Other stories encompass:

• Hinepoupou's epic swim from Kapiti Island to Rangitoto (D'Urville Island) after being abandoned there by her unfaithful husband

• an explanation about the origins of the name Onamalutu (in the Wairau Valley)

• Hui Te Rangiora's exploration of the southern seas where he encountered icebergs

• the origins of the name Te Moana Raukawa (Cook Strait).

Some accounts of pre-whakapapa tribes and early whakapapa tribes have mythical elements:

• Nga Turehu were a supernatural people usually associated with elves and fairies (the fair-skinned Patupaiarehe); Maori are said to have acquired netmaking and weaving skills after Maori women were kidnapped by Nga Turehu and later escaped.

• Nga Kahui Tipua are variously depicted as a race of giants, dog-faced ogres, taniwha, or human beings. Their stories are based in Cloudy Bay about the time of Kupe's visit.

• Rakaihautu, an ancestor of Waitaha, disembarked from the Uruao from Hawaiki at Whakatu. Armed with his magic ko he journeyed south digging lakes - Rotoiti, Rotoroa, and Rangatahi (Lake Tennyson) - and sculpting mountain ranges, to rejoin the Uruao in Foveaux Strait.

These myths, legends and oral histories demonstrate how Maori perceived the world in times past, what they feared, and what human qualities they admired. They are important keys to many local place names.

2008 

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