Māhina-a-rangi and Tūrongo: A love story
The pathways of our ancestors
Taihakoa welcomes us to the field trip and discusses what it means for him to share this mātauranga with others.
- What does Taihakoa refer to as "a blessing"?
- What does Taihakoa try to extract from the narratives?
- How do these narratives help Taihakoa develop a sense of connection?
Te Rere i Ōturu: Māhina-a-rangi farewells her people and her land
Nestled deep within the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park, the Opuiaki Awa does not hold back. It flows to an edge and freefalls 40 metres to the rocks below, creating the waterfall known as Te Rere i Ōturu. It is here that Māhina-a-rangi looked back to farewell her people and lands.
- Which waka (canoe) do Māhina-a-rangi's people, Ngāti Kahungunu, trace their lineage back to?
- Who was Māhina-a-rangi's tūpuna who travelled through this way before her?
- Why is Te Rere i Ōturu such a significant place?
Whenua-ā-kura: The birthplace of Raukawa
Māhina-a-rangi and her people had a long journey across the land, made even more difficult due to Māhina-a-rangi being pregnant. As they crossed the Kaimai Ranges, Māhina-a-rangi went into labour. She gave birth to a baby boy at a place called Whenua-a-kura.
- What is a puna?
- What happened at Katikati?
Te Awa-a-Taikehu: Māhina-a-rangi crosses the Waikato River
After recovering from giving birth, Māhina-a-rangi continued the journey and finally reached the Waikato River. Once they had crossed the awa, a dog that Tūrongo had given Māhina-a-rangi, named Waitete, ran ahead to find him. When Tūrongo saw Waitete, he knew his wife and baby were close.
- What is Te Awa-a-Taikehu an original name for?
- What did Māhina-a-rangi do once she had crossed the awa?
Rangiātea: Māhina-a-rangi and Raukawa arrive at their new home
The end point in Māhia-a-rangi's journey and the place of her new home and people was Rangiātea. Here, in a sacred ceremony called a tohi, their baby was given the name Raukawa, after the fragrant oil that Māhina-a-rangi had worn during her secret meetings with Tūrongo. The scent of love, connection, and heritage.
- What is the video location known for once being?
- Discuss what activities might have taken place with the arrival of Māhina-a-rangi, her baby and entourage at Rangiātea.
- What thoughts do you have about origin narratives now that we have come to the end of the hīkoi?
