Photo by Cathrina Lynch
The Story of Our Mauri
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He Taonga Māori mo te New Zealand RTLB Association He korero mō tēnei kōhatu. Ko te kaupapa o tēnei kōhatu he mau i te mauri o te hui o te rōpu matua (NZRTLBA), ki tēnā iwi, ki tēnā iwi o te motu. I tupu ake te whakaaro mō te mauri ki roto I ngā Pouwhirinakitanga o te Tai Tokerau, i ētahi o ngā kaiwhakahaere o te hui nui i whakatūhia ki roto i te Tai Tokerau. I roto i ngā kōrero ka puta ake te whakaaro, he kōhatu hei mau i te mauri. I reira ka tikina atu e ngā Pouwhirinakitanga tēnei kōhatu i tētahi kokoru, e kī ana ko Ruarangi, i roto i te Pei-o-whairangi, i roto hoki i Waitangi. He kokoru rongonui i roto o Ngāti Rāhiri, te take he ana kei roto. E ai ki ngā kōrero, ko tērā Te Ana o Maikuku. Tēnā wahine, a Maikuku, he wahine rongonui he uri nō Tāhuhu-nui-o-rangi, he tino rangatira i roto o Ngāpuhi. Nā, ka tupu ake tēnei wahine, ka nui, ka tohia e ōna mātua he puhi, nā ka whakatapua, ka whakanohoia ki roto i te ana i Ruarangi. Nā, ka roa tōna nohoanga ki roto i tana tapu ka tae te rongo ki tētahi i rangatira o Taratara, ko Hua tōna ingoa. Tēnei wahi, a Taratara, kei roto i Whangaroa. Nā, ka rongo a Hua i te ataahua me te rongonui o tēnei wahine, ka haere ake mā te moana, ā, ka haere, kātahi ka uru mai ki roto i te whahapū o Tokerau. I a ia e whakaaro ana me pēhea e kitea e ia tēnei wahine, ka rangona i ngā taniwha e ngāngā ana i roto i te wai. Ka tākina e ia i a ia e haere ana, tae noa kia tau atu ki roto i te ana. Koia nei te kōrero a Hua ki a Maikuku i tō rāua Tūtakitanga. “Na ōu rongo ahau i tae mai ai, i haere mai ahau ki a koe hei wahine māku.” Ka kī atu a Maikuku ki ā ia. “I te mea kua noa ahau i a koe, kua rite tēnei ana ki tētahi rua te kino.” Ka whakahokia atu a Hua, “E pai ana, e anganui ki te rā,” Nā, ka whakarērea e rāua tēnā ana. Ka mutu ngā kōrero i konei. Nga Pouwhirinakitanga o te Tai Tokerau "Te hā o te mokopuna" This story relates to how the ‘rock’ was chosen by the NZRTLB Association The rock is a symbol which nurtures the spirit of the NZRTLB Association of every tribe throughout Aotearoa. The thinking around establishing a uniting symbol developed at a Pouwhirinakitanga Conference in Tai Tokerau. In that discussion RTLB expressed their opinions that a rock could be a symbol to strengthen and ‘hold on’ to the spirit of Nga Pouwhirinakitanaga. From that conference, it was agreed that a rock be selected from an inlet in the region called Ruarangi in the Pei-o-Whairangi, near Waitangi. It is a well-known bay in the area of Ngai Rahiri. The RTLB then selected this rock from an inlet called Ruarangi close to Waitangi. It Is a well-known bay in which a cave is located, in the land of Ngati Rahiri. According to the story, that cave got its name from a woman called Maikuku – Te Ana o Maikuku. That woman was well known and was a descendant of Tahuhu-nui-o-rangi a famous chief from Ngapuhi. As the woman grew up her parents selected her as a child who was ‘blessed’ – a child who was special to her people. A restriction (a tapu) was placed on her and she had to remain in the cave of Ruarangi. She lived in the cave for many years under the restrictions. As she grew news went around about her beauty and fame. It was heard by a chief of Taratara from Whangaroa and he wanted to meet her. He travelled by sea and arrived at the mouth of Tokerau. While he was thinking and planning of how he could meet this woman, a taniwha became aware of this and the water became rough. Tarata heard the roaring of the water. Throughout his journey he recited prayers up until he arrived at the cave. These are the words that Hua said to Maikuku on their first meeting. “The reason I came here is because of what I have heard about you. You are the woman for me”. Maikuku replied, “Because you have made me like a common woman the tapu has been lifted. You have removed the restrictions on me. This cave is now likened to a cave that is a bad omen.” Hua replied to her, “That it is good and he told her to face directly into the sun”. Then they both fled from the cave. That is the end of the story. Nga Pouwhirinakitanga o te Tai Tokerau. |