This Ngāti Hako stronghold was originally called Puapua-Tirohia (puapua meaning ‘gift’ and tirohia ‘to look’). The name was adopted when one tribal leader gave another land east of the Waihou River, extending from Mt Te Aroha to Te Rae-o-te-papa. Describing these boundaries he said, ‘Mai i tēnei rae o te rangi ki tērā rae o te papa, ko te puapua e tirohia e au!’ (From this my lofty brow in the sky, to that arched in the horizon, is the gift I look at!). The name gained additional meaning when the railway first arrived in the district, and the people called out, ‘Tirohia ki te tereina!’ (Look at the train!).
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