The Legend of Hau

Haunui-a-nanaia was the son of Popoto, leader of Kurahaupo canoe. He followed his wife Wairaka who had run off with her lover Weku, southward from Taranaki to Pukerua some 600 years ago.

The legend of the naming of the principal rivers by Hau was contained in an ancient Maori lullaby which described his journey. Firstly he reached a broad river which he called Whanganui (whanga - bay, nui - great); then he dipped up the water of the next river and called it Whanga-Ehu (ehu - to bail). Next he felled a tree and called it Turakina (turaki - to throw down); then with long strides he reached the next river and called it Rangitikei (rangi - day, tikei - to stride out). The next river he viewed with apprehension and called it Manawatu  (manawa - heart, tatu - to stumble).

At Hokio he thought a whistling noise in his ears came from the extinct bird, the hokioi, and at Ohau he named the small stream after himself (O - belonging to). Where he stuck his staff in the sand he called the river Otaki (taki - to stick in). At the next river he thought he could hear his errant wife and he called it Waikanae (wai - water, kanae - to stare wildly).

Finally he caught up with his wife near Paekakariki (pae - resting place, kakariki - parakeet) and ordering her into the sea he changed her into stone where she stands today as a rock at Wairaka Point to the west of Pukerua Bay.