Story: Tapa whenua – naming places

Garden of seven stones, Rarotonga (2nd of 2)

Garden of seven stones, Rarotonga

Early 20th-century scholars proposed that New Zealand was founded by a Great Fleet of seven canoes, which is commemorated by this garden in Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands. Some believe the canoes came to New Zealand from Rarotonga. Many Māori place names in New Zealand are similar or identical to names in the Cook Islands.

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Private collection
Photograph by Lois Farrow

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How to cite this page:

Rāwiri Taonui, 'Tapa whenua – naming places - Exploration and naming', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/18635/garden-of-seven-stones-rarotonga (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 24 Nov 2008