Page 9 - Puhipi

centuries there have been many arguments as to which of the fleet actually arrived first.

The Tainui sailed north, made a portage at the Tamaki Isthmus, Hoturoa is said to
have watched sea birds flying overland and guessed that another great body of water
was close, and thence to Kawhia on the West Coast. The canoe after many adventures
was buried at Kawhia and the people who had sailed on her settled in the King
Country, the Waikato District and as far as Hauraki in the East Mokau in the Sth-

West and Tamaki in the North.

Behind the story of the Arawa canoe is the familiar tale of expanding populations and
dissension over food supplies. The high chief Uenuku killed and ate a dog belonging to
a lesser chief Tama-Te-Kapua, in return Tama-te-Kapua and his brother Whakaturia

mounted stilts and robbed Uenukus breadfruit trees. Whakaturia was captured but
managed to escape and eventually the whole affair blew up into open warfare. When
peace was at last made Tama-te-Kapua probably decided that Hawaiki was no place
for him so he prepared to migrate to the far off land which Kupe had discovered. It was
for this purpose that the Arawa canoe was built. Before she sailed the wily Tama

invited the priest Ngatoro-i-Rangi of the Tainui on board to perform the proper
ceremonies. While he was there the canoe sailed, thus ensuring that the vessel had
someone aboard properly equipped to deal with spiritual dangers. Kearoa, Ngatoros

wife was also kidnapped and Tama who legend tells had a way with the ladies also
stole Whaka-oti-Rangi wife of one Ruaeo. Once at sea Tama set about wooing Kearoa,
her husband enraged called upon his gods for revenge. Thus it came about that a storm
arose and the canoe was forced into a great whirlpool, the throat of a sea monster called
Te Parata. Ngatoro relented at the last minute and by his incantations calmed the sea

and pacified the whirlpool.

The Arawa arrived at Whangaparaoa in early summer. Tradition tells that the scarlet

pohutukawa was in flower and that a member of the crew called Tauninihi threw away
his prized headgear of red feathers to deck his hair with blossoms whose beauty soon
faded. From this action comes a famous Maori proverb which is the equivalent of
shakespears All that glistens is not gold.

The people of the Arawa explored the Bay of Plenty eventually landing at Maketu.
Here Ruaeo who had sailed in pursuit in his canoe Pukatea Wainui caught up with
them challenged Tama to single combat and defeated him. It seems that the innocent
cause of it all Whaka-oti-Rangi stayed with the people of the Arawa. She is

remembered in their traditions as the one who had saved a few seed of kumara and
sweet potatoes when most of the freight had been lost in the whirlpool. The people of
the canoe had a tribal name of Nga-Oho, but to commemorate their vessel adopted its
name so that now they are known today as Te Arawa.

Tama-te-Kapua moved north and died at Moehau on the Coromandle peninsula. Ihenga
led the way to the interior and found Rotorua. Tia discovered Lake Taupo in the full