It’s Māori language week in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and it seems appropriate for the retelling of a story about the naming of the rivers in the South Taranaki Bight.

Disclaimer: Before I get too far along I should point out that I am not Tangata whenua, I was never told this story in its entirety, I have pieced it together via searching books and the internet. If you wish to provide corrections (or contact me otherwise) send an email to shane at the domain this site is hosted on. I will clearly mark within the retelling where I am unsure of the details.

Hau and his wife (Wairaka) lived in South Taranaki with their two slaves, named (I think) Kiwi and Weka. Hau went on a trip to Hawaiiki and upon his return he discovered that his wife and the two slaves were gone.

Hau set off to find them. On his journey he came across a river with a large harbour, and named it thus, Whanganui (Whanga - harbour, nui - large or big), almost immediately after crossing Whanganui Hau came to another harbour with turpid waters (Whangaehu, Whanga - harbour, ehu - turpid).

Hau travelled further east and came to a river that he had to cross via a bridge made from a felled log (some retellings have Hau felling the log, some say it had been felled when he chanced upon it). Turakina (felled log, I’d appreciate a clearer translation here).

Hau slept here for the night. The next day he spent walking until he came to the next river, Rangitikei (Rangi - Day, Tikei - step/walk).

Hau travelled onward, the next river was broad, it made his heart stand still/skip a beat, the Manawatu (Manawa - heart, Tu - stand still).

As Hau travelled south he crossed a river that today bears his name, Ohau (O - Of, Hau).

At the next river struck his staff into the ground and began to make a speech, Otaki (O - Of, Taki - speech).

He crossed that river before coming to the final river of his journey. That river shimmered like the silvery scales of the Grey Mullet, Waikanae (Wai - Waters, Kanae - Grey Mullet).

This next section comes from ETC/Vic university

At Paekakariki Hau reached the end of the sandy beach. There long he came to a barrier of rock through which he forced a passage by means of his powers of magic, and so we have the Ana o Hau or Cave of Hau.

Again Hau fared on, and, on reaching the beach at Wairuapihi, below Pukerua, he at last came upon Wairaka. He asked her where Kiwi and Weka were, and was told that they would return in the evening. Hau awaited their return, and, when they arrived, he attacked and slew them. Hau then commanded Wairaka to go to the off-shore rocks and gather shellfish, when she had waded out some distance he recited the dread matapou spell and thereby transformed Wairaka into a rock. Thus when you look down the iron road of the white man upon the bounds of the sea of Raukawa you will see the storm lashed rock that represents the hapless Wairaka.