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The Maori Canoe

"Horouta"

"Horouta"

The vessel known as "Horouta" came to New Zealand from Tawhiti (Tahiti) at the same time that those named "Arawa," "Tainui," "Matatua," "Takitumu," and "Aotea" came. Pawa, or Paoa, was the principal man of "Horouta." Ira, eponymic ancestor of Ngati-Ira, also came in that vessel. A list of over seventy persons has been preserved as having come hither in "Horouta." This vessel came to land at Ahuahu, and then coasted down to Ohiwa. These immigrants are said to have introduced the kuri, or native dog, as also the kumara, or sweet potato.

Yet another vessel that reached these shores from the isles of Polynesia was one commanded by Whiro-te-tipua, who settled at Oakura, Taranaki District, where there is a place named Te Wai-piropiro a Whiro-te-tipua. After his arrival here a party went to attack the Rua-tamore aborigines living at Te Awa-toto, Tuhua district, and these raiders returned with information that there was much unoccupied land inland of Whanga-nui; hence Whiro left Oakura, where he had married a local woman named Tai-te-ariki, and traversed the land as far as Karioi-o-Whiro, eventually settling up the Whanga-nui valley.