Before Maori - NZ’s First Inhabitants
Ross M Bodle
Smashwords Edition
Copyright Ross M Bodle - December 2011
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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This is a book that a layperson can read and gain from in understanding, embracing the true history of old and new Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Hawaiki, Maui, The Great Migration, Exploration & Discovery, Sample of a native fleet, Sea worthiness of Wakas, Did Maori sail to New Zealand or is it fantasy? Kaumatua, A Calabash sextant, Ships or canoes? Fortified settlements, Palisades in New Zealand, A parcel of lies, Value of hogs in the Pacific, Early man in New Zealand, Antarctica theory, Past Ice Ages, Stone age weapons, Greenstone (Pounamu).
Kumera plants (Ipomoea Batatas), The Manila Galleons, Celtic origins, Spanish navigation, Canoe voyages to Peru? Ships or canoes? Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Why not Maori? The mystery deepens, Heemerkirk & Zeehaen, Pre-Maori.
A dishonest act, Who really discovered New Zealand, Buried alive, Other small folk, The Australian Barrinean Pigmy, Pre-Maori historical sites, Secretive digs, Lake Taupo volcanic eruption 186AD, Further evidence, Headstone, Factual findings 1860, Modern findings 2009, Patupaiarehe inhabitants.
The International road show, Juan Fernandez, Taniwha dragon, Kiore black rat, The Moa Hunters, Native dogs (Kuri), Massive earthquake, Oldest record of man in New Zealand, Headstone, Musket tribal wars, The three main reasons for the treaty.
Genealogy/Whakapapa, The Ancient of Days, Let my people go, Shepherd Kings, Christian Education in New Zealand, Aramaic/Semitic language, New update, hawk (Kahu), who are the True Indigenous People of New Zealand?
The first People, Moriori, Waitaha (Children of Maui), Our Cultural Future, Maori today, Toronto, Utu/revenge/payback, A Nation Under Siege, Apartheid/segregation, A Massive Cover Up, Your Cooperation is required, Herea Te tangata ki Te whenua (Binding people to the land).
Wake up New Zealand, A country that’s divided will fall, A National Day of Prayer, Incident # One, Incident # Two, A Non Win Situation, Epilogue, A Spiritual Awareness, New Zealand’s National Anthem,
Bibliography, References & Further Reading, Post Script, The Challenge, A Manual for all mankind
Preface:
For sixty odd years I’ve listened to our cultural problems some of which been caused by deception or misunderstanding by Pakeha (Europeans) and Maori alike. Moreover, I’m deeply disappointed in our politicians making these so called settlements payments and foreshore rights agreements to iwi (tribes) without checking the ground work first. The main reason I’ve put this essay together is so that the truth can be exposed and viewed by all cultures wherever as to who are the true indgenous people of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Politicians need to understand that the past generations of Maori landowners were ready and willing to sell flax, tattooed heads, and land to obtain weapons for an ‘Utu’ (revenge) and the early New Zealand Polynesian as a race were obviously not the first settlers to Aotearoa as they claim, and the modern Pakeha-Maori are reaping the benefits, why?
‘The greater the lie, the more likely it is to be believed.’
Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda, Josef Goebbels.
About the Author:
I’m a New Zealander and an ardent one at that being from ‘Ngati Porou’ on the East Coast of the North Island. At an early age we as a family found our local Maori a proud fun loving people who gave many hours of education and encouragement in the way of Maoridom. This I’ve personally cherished as taught through ‘Mary Grey’ our adorable Maori nanny from ‘Tokomaru Bay’ an iwi (tribe) known for its knowledge on healing properties. The area mentioned above is situated near the modern city of Gisborne on the North Island of New Zealand. (Ngati - descendents of).
Dedication:
To all the New Zealand born, we are one nation of diverse cultures, simply known as ‘Kiwis’ a proud multicultural island nation in the far reaches of the Southern Pacific.
Introduction:
Throughout the years we have visited museums around the Pacific and found evidence that left us wondering about the identity of our earlier cultures. Some research material gave detailed descriptions of extraordinary discoveries, some findings were pretentious, but are included here so that readers can evaluate it and draw their own conclusions. Part of the material collected seems incredible, perhaps offensive; it’s the truth as we have found it and this book is our heartfelt effort to share it with you in the best way possible. Moreover, the theories and controversies surrounding Polynesia still grow daily. We are still researching, delving into whatever, whenever, in other words it’s ongoing…
In each country visited we have talked to a learned few on the above subject, as my wife Sylvia and I are interested in the anthropology of the Pacific people, and what better way than using our sailboat as a vehicle to do this whilst sailing around these colourful islands?
What is anthropology?
Basically, it’s a study of mankind, a group of sciences all rolled into one mostly covering the following subjects; field work in all that it contains, cultural development, doctrines, origin, social, languages, archaeology, kinship and mythology to just name a few. It usually involves a combination of many people, universities, especially government funding, research that can’t be rushed; it takes time and a huge amount of capital.
Our own research has been difficult, as we are not supported by outside means being totally independent. Now I have a partner, my wife finds the research interesting and somewhat challenging despite the hardships involved. Obviously some of the verbal material passed on to me over the past sixty years is backed up from the extracts enclosed, as the writer has allowed enough snippets to get the reader’s attention on specific subjects without harming cultures. Furthermore, you can follow up our research material by contacting your local archives or using the Amazon website. Amazonbooks.com
Prologue;
The manuscript below is a compilation of documents, newspaper articles of so-called expert opinion about pre-Maori and Maori occupation of New Zealand. Many a passive Maori has come forward questioning their history that has been presented to them by influential people, academics, both Maori and Pakeha (European) as many believe they are descendants of a very ancient civilization that once inhabited New Zealand long before the arrival of Maori; some iwi (tribe) called them the ‘forest that whisperers,’ whilst others made out that they were just a myth or a legend and were not real people at all but ghosts, they were called by Maori the Waitaha, a forest dwelling people. Also enclosed are the findings and tales that have been handed down amongst iwi about fair skinned people and the deliberate determined effort by some to squash the legitimacy of these ancient tribes. Some iwi tribes have declared it as tapu, forbidden, to talk about them, whilst other Maori as settlers tell of another culture called the Patu-pai-arehe, recorded from their own voyages, believing that there was more than one race living in New Zealand long before the coming of Maori.
A conspiracy?
The book by Michael King on early New Zealand history, used as gospel amongst academics, politicians and influential people, is now under the spotlight as there are too many anomalies discovered by other historians from archaeological finds. It is this anomaly that has created a conspiracy theory that was reinforced when police were alleged to have stated that; ‘the death of Michael King and his wife in a car wreck was at the time suspicious.’
The massive cover up:
Due to the Waitangi Tribunal many pre-Maori artifacts found by Europeans or Maori in Northland have been handed over to local iwi called the Te Roroa Hapu, ‘Waipoua Advisory Committee Authority’ as pre-Maori bones and other archaeological finds as evidence are removed from the site then either kept, buried or deliberately destroyed. Why?
It’s our heritage:
Hopefully, at some stage in the future many of our passive Maori with alleged Patu-pai-arehe and Waitaha blood will have the opportunity to make sure that these items will be protected so they too can actually touch, look, ponder, and marvel at such things that their ancestors had once used.
National Security:
The driving force behind this essay is in support of those underprivileged few who believe they have the DNA of the ancient Maru-iwi, Waitaha or the Patu-paiarehe, and their need to uncover the reason for the fourteen pages of alleged carbon dating of archeological evidence which has been restricted from public view until 2063 on the grounds of National Security. Why?
A renewed beginning:
The following information will be of a brief nature only as some of it will surprise you and perhaps enlighten especially our native brothers and sisters, but you have to follow through by checking out the facts yourself. The reader will need pen and paper to make notes as I’ve included websites to give access to material one usually cannot find published elsewhere; also details of books numbered accordingly at the end of these chapters. Please note; I’ve deliberately left out page numbers, as the reader regardless of educational merit will never be able to grasp the real significant meaning to Maoridom by just reading a few lines, especially on a specific subject. Have a good read then do your research; whatever your findings, you will certainly find it awe-inspiring.
Hawaiki, Maui, The Great Migration, Exploration & Discovery, Sample of a native fleet, Sea worthiness of Wakas, Did Maori sail to New Zealand or is it fantasy? Kaumatua, A Calabash sextant, Ships or canoes? Fortified settlements, Palisades in New Zealand, Landed Aliens from the west, The name of Maori, A parcel of lies, Value of hogs in the Pacific, Early man in New Zealand, Antarctica theory, Past Ice Ages, Stone age weapons, Greenstone (Pounamu).
Please Note:
In the following comments I want to make very, very clear we are not taking sides, putting down Maori or being in anyway racist, nor is it designed to create disunity as we respect and admire their differences in custom and culture. This essay is designed to help the reader to investigate for themselves the real history of New Zealand, as the truth must be told and passed on as recorded by those famous few within Maoridom who had the knowledge and wisdom now recorded below.
Hawaiki: (Distant home 1350 BCE).
I suffer from a great disadvantage as there have been others before me who already compiled an excellent presentation of the early history of Aotearoa (New Zealand), however it seems not all about the Pacific inhabitants have been mentioned - perhaps their personal history doesn’t blend in with what some academics require or like other information has been distorted, or suppressed?
There has to be a starting point as where the Pacific people came from, to do this one has to trace their origins; when asked all in turn mentioned a far-off place called ‘Hawaiki.’ This name derives from Polynesian belief that refers to an island in the Cook Group somewhere near Rarotonga, whilst others arguably believe it to be in the Marquesas (Hiva Oa) in French Polynesia, often referred as the ‘Hub’ of Polynesia? In fact ancient script suggests otherwise as Hawaiki isn’t an island but a distant home far removed from the South Pacific.
Maui:
According to Maori Mythology, the largest Pacific Island landmass Aotearoa New Zealand was fished out of the sea by a demi-god called Maui who supernaturally achieved the impossible. A supernatural being or spiritual presence as told throughout Polynesia; it was this same Maui who founded their islands and atolls simply by hauling fishing lines from his Vaka canoe, a much occupied demi-god.
The Great Migration:
The arrival of seven canoes en masse to ‘Aotearoa’ (New Zealand) simultaneously is simply a myth, as the voyages would have been occurring at intervals taking several weeks, months or perhaps generations. For example, when a racing fleet of sailboats leave New Zealand waters for the Fijian Islands, all carry satellite navigation (GPS), chart plotters that give course, speed over ground, and ship’s position to within a few metres. Even with the ultimate equipment installed and crew expertise, they still cannot manage to arrive at the required destination together, it is simply not possible. To be realistic, the migrating Vakas (canoes) would have been spread out after the first canoe departed, as storms and gales would have separated the fleet with some vessels being lost at sea. Moreover, making a voyage from eastern Polynesia for a distance of over four thousand miles, to actually sail directly to an unknown land without some prior knowledge beforehand, is simply folly. One can only presume that there had been sightings of volcanic activity plumes from Taupo, (186 AD), and the volcanoes of Ruapehu, Egmont/Taranaki and Rangitoto (500AD.) ‘Bloody sky’ etc, as most would have been active around that period. Also perhaps smoke from the massive bush fires created by the volcanoes gave the approximate position of Aotearoa? 32, 44.
Exploration & Discovery:
After the cyclone season had finished (November-April), each Vaka crew loaded enough supplies for approximately two weeks and left their home islands, sailing into fresh southeast trade-wind always shunting the mainsail, tacking in a zigzag pattern whilst each navigator studied the heavens, swell movements above and below the surface as well as bird life for tell-tale signs of approaching land. When nearly depleted of supplies and with no islands in sight, each canoe returned to their home running before the trades - that’s how it was done.
Worthy of note:
The nearest alien island northwest of Aotearoa (New Zealand) is New Caledonia with a Vaka sailing time frame of 10-12 days depending on trade-wind strength. Melanesian culture # one.
Kupe & Toi:
Whilst visiting other island groups one had learned of such a land to the south. With this knowledge Kupe in 925AD made an exploratory voyage southwards, presumably from Tahiti, leaving probably from Melanesia or perhaps Fiji. Using an ‘Ndrua’ or Tongan ‘Kalia’ known as a fast ocean-sailing outrigger (proa) canoes, he found Aotearoa New Zealand to be uninhabited and returned to confirm their findings. Once this was carried out, more canoes Toi (the wood eater) in (1150 - 1350 AD) and others would have left in stages as time and seasons allowed. This latter theory was confirmed by the late Dr David Lewis (who has written many a paper and books on this specific subject) whilst the author attended a dinner evening in Whitianga in the Bay of Plenty. I caught up with David again at the Auckland Maritime Museum and knowing of my interest in anthropology he asked me to join him on a voyage to Rarotonga. It would have been a fabulous experience but I had to decline his kind offer due to commitments. 48, 51, 52. (See Obituary online; Dr David Lewis, under New Zealand Archaeology).
Sample of a Native Naval Fleet:
It’s interesting to note the show of strength when warring parties got together as witnessed by Captain James Cook, Foster and Hodges when visiting ‘King George Island’ (Tahiti) in 1774, as they observed a fleet of 160 double hulled warships in ‘Pare Bay’, some with fighting platforms, plus another 170 smaller canoe-type sailing craft with approximately 7-8000 warriors preparing for an attack on the neighboring island of Moorea. Each Vaka carried 40 rowers/paddlers armed with spears, clubs and stones for slings.
Cook mentioned a fleet of ships; if this holds true then these vessels would have been massive, large enough to carry freight/cargo to be used as a type of transport carrying many warriors. The smaller faster vessels (proa) out-riggers commandeered supplies to Moorea and if applicable the wounded and deceased back to Tahiti. 48.
Worthy of note:
Vaka is the Polynesian word for canoe whilst Waka is the same for Maori.
Sea worthiness of Wakas:
Whilst on the subject of sailing vessels, an item on ‘CNN News’ showed a large Maori Waka capsize in the waves off the harbour entrance thus giving the characteristics of a mono-hulled canoe. This took place during the ‘Millennium Bicentenary New Year 2000’ at Gisborne on the East Coast noted to be the first city on our planet to receive the sun. However, the larger double Waka/Vaka (catamaran) joined with lashed beams were compatible with the movement of the sea.
Did Maori sail to New Zealand or is it fantasy?
I’ve asked many local Maori around Northland this particular question with a deliberate selection of age group between 20-40 years. “Do you believe that your ancestors actually sailed to New Zealand from the Pacific Islands?” Their individual answers are as follows;
(a) “No way, we have always been here.”
(b) “We came in one large canoe bringing with us animals, plants and over 1000 people at a time.”
(c) “We came on the early whaling ships and not in canoes.”
(d) “Yes, we must have because we are here aren’t we, bro?”
(e) “We found Aotearoa by accident after a fishing canoe got lost and drifted from the islands.”
(f) “I’m not sure? I personally feel that it’s not possible for frail canoes to venture that far without having the proper navigation skills and adequate food supplies?”
Nevertheless, regardless of the debates involving Polynesian ocean passages, our personal findings tell us voyages did actually take place using their double hulled 60-70 ft ocean-going canoes Nga Waka O Nehera. To enable such voyages each had to be planned well in advance to survive the vast distances, however, if the native population was found to be under threat and forced to leave quickly, their vessels in whatever shape or form would have been poorly equipped. As to a lost fishing party or drift voyage to New Zealand under the same circumstances, as one young so-called Kaumatua firmly believed, it is simply folly, as one cannot sustain long periods at sea without water for more than seven or eight days especially in open vessels. One must remember that New Zealand is far removed from the prevailing easterly trade wind usually found at approximately 25 degrees latitude.
Worthy of note:
The role of a Kaumatua in Maoridom is that one has to be male, exceptionally chosen by his tribe, to act as a spoke person on the marae, to be a keeper of knowledge in the traditions of the iwi Hapu (sub-tribe) and is actively involved with his Whanau (extended family) as a respected elder.
Calabash sextant:
The following newspaper clipping of such a voyage will help clear disbeliefs; also to enlighten the reader. Taken from ‘The Evening Post 29th March, 1926.’ (Page 10):
‘Maori Navigators Regular Ocean Voyages. A Calabash Sextant, Admiral Rodman Inquires.’
Throughout the Pacific Islands tradition is abundant that the Polynesians did actually voyage, of deliberate design, across long ocean stretches. Captain J. Bollons, of the Government steamer Tutanekai, while admitting that the ancestors of the Maori came to New Zealand by canoe, contends that they were victims of circumstances, and were driven offshore by adverse weather. In an article in the “Auckland Star,” Mr Frank Bodle states that the Admiral Rodman (who accompanied the United States fleet which recently visited New Zealand as a guest), compared notes on the subject of Maori migration with Dr P.H. Buck. Admiral Rodman stated that when he was in command of the Hawaiian naval station about 1906, he was informed by the natives that in the former days, and at regular intervals, a fleet of Hawaiian canoes set out from those islands, steering by the stars, for Tahiti and the island of Raiatia. On the latter island there was a famous marae, regarded as so sacred by Polynesians that natives from distant islands voyaged thereto in order to take away a stone as the nucleus for an altar in any new settlement. On the island of Raiatia high mysteries were celebrated. The Admiral was skeptical as to the navigating powers of the islanders, but the natives were emphatic and recited the old sailing directions. They explained that the traverse to Tahiti was without serious difficulty but, owing to adverse winds and currents, the return voyage requires great skill. On the homeward journey it was necessary to take what sailors would call the starboard tack, steering far to the eastward of Hawaii, crossing the Line well out towards the American Continent.
Again the admiral professed profound skepticism, and the natives, piqued by this, which they called “the magic calabash.” When the northern constellation, which we call the Little Bear, was sighted, said the natives, the calabash was brought into use. This curious nautical instrument had four holes in its circumference, forming a level line. The bowl was filled with water to the level of the holes, and the native observer sighted through a back hole over the far rim at Polaris, the Pole star, exactly as a modern sailor might do with modern instruments. When satisfied of their position the fleet turned due west and invariably made home. This Admiral, still dubious, experimented himself, and found by careful measurement that the angle used by the old navigators was 19 degrees – and Hawaii is 19 degrees north of the Equator. Quite evidently these Hawaiians found the latitude of Hawaii when many hundreds of miles away, and sailed down to their home, correcting their position each evening by fresh sights. For the purpose of these Polynesians, said the Admiral to Dr Buck, this magical calabash was efficient and accurate an instrument as those used by seamen of today. Admiral Rodman made searching inquiries, and in discussing the whole matter in a Honolulu paper, recorded his conviction that the Hawaiians definitely and regularly voyaged from Hawaii to Tahiti and back.
So far as the Maori voyage to New Zealand is concerned, states Mr F. H. Bodle, there is no suggestion of anything like the magical calabash, but the story of the Maori migration, preserved throughout New Zealand, is supported by linking genealogies in Tahiti and this country, by various island food plants transported to an acclimatized New Zealand – drift canoes would inevitably exhaust their food supplies are reachable here, leaving nothing to plant – and by evidence of the stars. The sailing directions for the original fleet have been preserved, and they refer to various stars as guides. These enumerated stars would be quite useless for the voyage today, but careful calculations have shown that their positions in the heavens 500 to 600 years ago – the migration period according to genealogies – these stars would be accurate guides for the journey to New Zealand. All the evidence tends to confirm the detailed traditions of Tahiti and of New Zealand.
The seamanship of the Polynesians and the sea worthiness of their craft are admitted by Captain Bollons, while their skilled navigators is attested by many acute observers, amongst whom Captain Cook and Admiral Rodman testify as experts. The book on “Maori Canoes and Canoes of the Pacific Islands” published by Mr Elsdon Best, a recognized authority on Polynesian history, contains a map which shows that according to tradition, numerous voyages were made between the groups of islands.’ End Quote. (Online).
The Polynesians were great seamen who were skilled at the ancient art of building what some would call primitive fragile sailing vessels that were fast and light in construction. Some hold the view that they were hundreds of years ahead of their European counterparts, the same applied to their navigation methods and their incredible knowledge of the stars. 28, 29, 46, 48.
Ships or Canoes?
To prepare for such a voyage to New Zealand each Vaka carried coconuts, gourds, and bamboo poles filled with water; this feat certainly seems feasible, but while carrying cargo and a large crew, the idea of towing coconut fiber lines with mussels attached whilst the crew held a large basket (kete) fixed between the hulls for food and bait would have to be another fable as one would expect that having all that extra weight plus drag would slow and swamp a voyaging canoe.
However, our personal research tells that a seventy foot multi-hull Vaka held a crew of 175 souls; both hulls had 84 paddlers in each section and another seven to hold the kete basket with the crew being a mix of men and women; the latter especially chosen for breeding. The crew caught fish while in transit allowing the flesh to be eaten raw, having juices instead of drinking fresh water. They shared four great 21ft steering sweeps; if the latter holds true then these vessels were not canoes but ships. As mentioned above, the early pre-Maori native settlers tell of crews paddling to a set of drums. The latter is confusing because one can’t paddle large ships; perhaps both large and smaller vessels were used in transit?
Captain Cook’s thoughts at that time; ‘they cannot remain at sea above two weeks as water and food supply would be depleted by then.’ 4, 48.
Fortified settlements:
It’s interesting to note that when European explorers first charted the Pacific there had been discoveries of large defense systems in the form of upright wooden posts 12 ft above ground, used to protect villages throughout Melanesian Papua New Guinea. Some were situated in the highlands whilst others were located in the surrounding islands, with some found on level ground enclosing village settlements. The latter fortresses had water filled moats on the outer rim for protection. The same had been found in the high hills of Aotearoa (New Zealand) but I personally have yet to see one with a moat. However, I’ve since learnt of one small ancient ‘Pa-site’ with a moat-post-palisade fortification that had been located in the Waikato district, now gone due to natural forces over a period of time. The palisades at former times were numerous in Aotearoa New Zealand but little known in Polynesia; since Maori migrated from the eastern region of the Pacific it suggests that they had adopted a system from another culture. 1, 2.
Worthy of note:
In level ground villages around Melanesia there were palisades surrounded by 6-9ft earthworks with moats outside, some having two or three moats and earthen mounds in between. Each was well fortified, with muddy water at waist height having fire-hardened sharpened stakes of split bamboo well placed below the surface, and trip lines/vines to catch the unwary. The pathway across consisted of two logs so placed that only one man could cross at a time, and above each palisade entrance a projecting platform was guarded by warriors who threw spears/darts, shot arrows, and threw down large stones, also using slings. Some fortifications were surrounded by a maze of ditches large enough to literally get lost in. 52. (Melanesian custom # two).
Palisades in New Zealand:
Here we have two different cultures, Melanesian and Polynesian-Maori, separated by thousands of miles of ocean but they have the same defenses. It seems incredible, so how come? This question will be answered shortly but first let’s take a look at what early European explorers had to say on this topic. It seems that the native Polynesian didn’t introduce palisades to Aotearoa (New Zealand) as quoted from Captain James Cook’s log whilst he was in ‘Bora Bora,’ a Polynesian Island group.
‘The crew from HMS Discovery and HMS Resolution witnessed a mock battle given by the Polynesian natives to demonstrate their effectiveness in their naval strategy. For the safety of these islands each community relied upon its navy of war canoes, never fighting on land only on the water accustomed are they from birth to the sea and the maneuvering of their vessels. Each war canoe measured between 60-70 ft in length and had fighting platforms mounted aboard for warriors to fight on.’
Cook was suitably impressed and rated that it could be a learning curve using these same tactics for the British Admiralty.
One must remember that the atolls and islands around the eastern Pacific have coral reefs as a natural barrier for protection surrounding each island thus having lagoons; it was here that battles were fought either outside the reef or in calmer waters but never fighting on land. Joseph Banks, also from Cook’s ship, reported in his writings the same with an additional mention about Vaka fighting platforms and natives often ramming canoes.
Worthy of note:
In New Zealand the palisades, corner posts and centre post of large meeting houses around ‘ancient Pa sites’ had human remains at the base, each located in a sitting position embracing the posts. These have been found in the Bay of Plenty, especially around Maketu between Tauranga and Whakatane, the same could be found along the Urenui River, twenty miles northeast of New Plymouth on the West Coast of the North Island such as Maru-whi, Poho-kura, Okoki, ancient Pa hill sites that had been occupied long before the arrival of Maori. The dark skinned Maru-iwi people as named by Maori are believed to be of Melanesian descent, having come from a warmer climate, as they had bushy/frizzy hair like Fijians. They were a tall slim race with very dark skin and were big boned with flat facial features. Their slaves unfortunately were forced to hold the posts upright whilst they were buried alive, definitely not a Maori custom.
The Maru-iwi inhabited most of the North Island upon the arrival of ‘Toi’ in the first emigrational canoe as found in Northland, Hokianga, Tamaki, Hauraki, Taranaki, Urewera National Park, Opotiki, Mohaka, Te Wairoa, Taupo, Mokau, Nuhaka, and other locations. The palisades and defense systems had to be adopted from these earlier people (Tanga Whenua). 1, 2, 52. Melanesian custom # three.
Evening Post 31st July 1917, page 9. Reference; Wellington Harbour.
“ “ “ 15th July 1930, page 3. Reference; Moriori & Maori.
“ “ “ 2nd May 1918, page 3. Reference; Rock paintings.
The references above mention that Kupe and Ngahue sighted Aotearoa New Zealand after sailing from Tahiti in two canoes called Mata-horua and the Tawari-rangi. The following conflicting reports are confusing.
(a). Mentions that Kupe and Ngahue sailed from the North Cape down the East Coast and into Wellington Harbour then traversed the west coast of the South island and found moa bones and some greenstone before returning to their home island.
(b). Also states that the canoes circumnavigated the whole of New Zealand with no mention of finding a moa bone or greenstone, only citing that Aotearoa was uninhabited.
(c). That Kupe sailed with his wife and two daughters in one canoe carrying 300 people traveling from Tahiti to cross the great ocean Moana-nui-a-Kiwi to Castle Point on the Wairarapa Coast and settled before heading down to the South Island.
(d). After a portage across Auckland hinterland the two 60ft double hulled Vakas of approximately 25 tons each sailed down the west coast to Taranaki.