Living Heritage - Tikanga Tuku Iho

Living Heritage -

Puketapu and the legend of Araiteuru.

Represented by Room 4 and their teacher Mrs Robyn Higgins

The great waka Araiteuru sailed across the Pacific Ocean (Te moana nui kiwa) to the South Island.(Waipounamu)

When it was just off Oamaru a huge storm grew and the moana (sea) became very angry. The waves and wind tossed Araiteuru around.
The crew threw some of their precious cargo over board.

The cargo was kai baskets (te kai hinaki) full of taro,pumpkin, kumara and water gourds.

Some of it was washed up on the Hampden beach. These are the large Moeraki Boulders that we see on the beach today!

Due to incorrect karakia, the storm made Araiteuru sail off course, and it was swamped at Shag Point. ( Matakaea )

The rest of the cargo washed up on Te Whataparaerae.

(Katiki Beach).

Hipo the chief sent some of the crew, Puketapu, and
Nga Tamariki a Hekura and Pakahiwitahi to Southland
(Murihiku) to gather firewood and water." Be back by sunset!,"
he commanded.

Daylight overtook Puketapu(Sacred Hill),
and Pakihiwitahi(the one shouldered one) and because of the
weight of his bundle of firewood, Puketapu and
Pakihiwitahi (Shag Point Hill) were unable to get all the way
back to Hipo.

But they are both not far from the place where Araiteuru remains today.

Puketapu is the hill where the famous landmark, (Sir John McKenzie Cairn) stands today.

The pakeha named the place where Arai te uru lies as
"Danger Reef" (Araiteuru or Hipo)

Hipo was the master or captain of the Araiteuru.This is the reef that we now see stretching out to sea off Shag Point.(Matakea)

Room 4 had a wonderful visit to Moeraki's UENUKU marae and enjoyed exploring the coastline which the legend of Araiteuru represents.

We are very grateful to the resource people and parents who generously gave up their time to contribute to a very successful day.
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