When Ngātoroirangi had just arrived in New Zealand from Hawaiki, he was overcome by extreme cold at a place called Onetapu. He called out to his sisters Te Hoata and Te Pupu, who sped to him from Hawaiki in the form of fire. When they emerged above ground they created the geysers, hot pools and volcanoes renowned in that part of the country.
The story is recounted in this waiata (song), ‘Ka eke ki Wairaka’.
Transcript
Kāti au ka hoki ki taku whenua tupu
Ki te wai koropupū i heria mai nei
I Hawaiki rā anō e Ngātoroirangi
E ōna tuāhine Te Hoata, Te PupūE hū rā i Tongariro, ka mahana i taku kiri.
Nā Rangi mai anō nāna i mārena
Ko Pihanga te wahine, ai ua, ai hau,
Ai marangai ki te muri eKōkiri!
Using this item
Reference: 182443
Image: New Zealand Post, 2000 Spirits and Guardians stamp issue
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.