18
PAKU VIEWS ISSUE 3 SPRING/SUMMER 2011-12
place your trust in the understanding and professionalism
of a TWENTYMANS funeral
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In the early 1800’s the area surrounding Paaku
was inhabited by Maori families. These hapu,
or sub-tribes, consisted of the people of the
river, nga iwi awa, whose marae were along
the Tairua river west of Pauanui; the people of
the bush, nga iwi rakau, skilled hunters whose
marae were along the Tairua side of the river;
and the people of the sea, nga iwi moana, whose
marae were on Paaku.
There was no need for fences – the hapu used their
own natural boundaries that were respected and
members of a hapu would not pass onto anothers
land without permission. They survived together, in
cooperation and in sharing of their resources.
It was common for any of these hapu to regularly
seek permission to enter a neighbouring land for
food. One might see a young boy from the bush
arriving at the marae at the base of Paaku to await
the elders with offerings from his hapu. He was
there to ask that his people be allowed to enter
the area and forage food from the sea. His kete
(basket) might contain kereru (pigeon), kiore (rat),
karaka berries and valuable medicinal plants like
kumerahou, prized for its ability to heal almost
anything.
The chief or an elder would consider the offering and
grant permission. More gifts from the boy’s hapu
would follow in appreciation for the bounty they
would now be permitted to harvest from the sea
including koura (crayfsh), ika (fsh), dory, scallops,
paua, tuatua (mollusks) and kina (urchin).
As autumn approached the river people would arrive
with offerings which might contain kanae (mullet),
inanga (whitebait), koura (freshwater crayfsh),
kokapu (trout) and tuna (eels). These would be
exchanged, the food dried and preserved for the
winter months or taken on journeys inland as barter
for other commodities.
These exchanges occured throughout the year and
were a way the neighbouring hapu maintained peace
and respect for each other and their territories.
A death in any hapu would bring everyone together
for the tangihanga (funeral), so all could pay their
respects. The tangi was a time to celebrate their
life and a time to say goodbye. It was a time of
song, story, laughter and tears as everyone got the
chance to complete any unfnished business with
the deceased. All hapu would contribute by bringing
food for the long celebratiion. It was also a time when
the chiefs would take advantage of the gathering to
arrange marriages,sometimes in an effort to keep
peace and create cooperation within the hapu.
It was a time of abundance–the sea and rivers were
flled with fsh, the land with birds and meat. Food
was shared and no one went hungry. The harbour
had an endless supply of pipi, which were shared
by everyone. It is said the pipi of Tairua are the
sweetest of all.
Kia ora.
Hi. Hello.
Thank you.
Ata mārie.
Good morning.
Ahi ahi mārie.
Good afternoon.
Pō mārie.
Good evening.
Nau mai.
Welcome.
Haere mai.
Welcome. Come in.
Ka kite anō.
See you later.
Kei te pēhea koe?
How are you?
Kei te pai ahau.
I’m good.
Hei aha!
What ever.
Never mind.
Kia pai tō rā.
Have a good day.
Ka mau te wehi!
Awesome!
Aē.
Yes.
Kāo.
No.
Kāti!
Stop. Don’t.
Whakarongo mai.
Listen to me.
Te Reo Māori
(The Māori language)
Some useful Māori greetings and phrases provided by Dave Dodd. Waimarie
pai (Good luck).
(Macrons on top of vowels indicate a long spoken vowel.)
A legend of the Te Haruru
water fall and Tangiteoria
stream in Pauanui
The young maori warrior Te Haruru fell in love
with a beautiful mermaid who lived in the Tairua
River. They married and happily spent all the days
together, but at night she would turn back into a
mermaid and swim out from the river to the sea.
Te Haruru eventually became possessive and
jealous. Wanting to have her with him all the time,
he decided to lock her in the whare (hut) to prevent
her from leaving him for her nightly journey to the
sea. The next day as the sun rose and the morning
rays shone through the punga wall and struck her
dry naked body – she died.
Te Haruru was devastated, He looked to the
heavens and let out a tremendous mighty roar that
became the roaring waterfall at the head of the
Tangiteroria (crying road or way) stream, named
after the many tears he shed for years to come.
A nearby road, Tangitarori Lane, was also named
after the stream, but with changed spelling.
Story by Keryn Drummond & Tovi Daly as told by Rere Moana Jones
from information shared at family gatherings and told to her by her kuia
(grandmother). Moana’s mother was actually born and buried in Tairua.
Her great grandfather is buried in the burial caves on Pa- ku.
The river meets the sea. Tairua
harbour has fed settlements around
its shores for many generations.
Photo: Keryn Drummond
Go hear the roar yourself. To fnd the waterfall from
Pauanui: Take the main road out of town (a couple of
kilometres), passing Tangitaori Lane on the right. At
the bottom of the next big hill look for an old sign on
the left saying “Waterfall Walk–20 minutes”. There is
a pullout with room to park.
Maori Hapu Living Together
on the Shores of Tairua
Introductory classes in Te Reo Māori were offered in Tairua in 2008-9. Students
learned about Te Reo, as well as Māoritanga (Māori culture), tikanga (customs)
and hītori (history). Those interested in possible future courses,
contact Dave Dodd at 078647633 or emai