Kupe's journey around Aotearoa

## Kupe

A great fierce battle between Kupe, his warriors and the Giant Wheke of Mutururing this ferocious battle, Kupe's children, wife, and other whānau members took shelter at Te Whanganui-a-Tara (present day Wellington), and collected supplies to stay safe from Kupe's fierce battle.

It was a dangerous mission, where Kupe would not be coming back for days. Maybe even weeks. His daughters were so worried when he didn't come back that they thought for sure he was dead. The girls slashed their chests in mourning, and the rocks became stained with red blood. These same rocks are known today as Pari Whero.

Kupe would be taking his huge sailing vessel, Matahorua, out into the vast, unforgiving ocean. His ship was almost capsized, which brought Kupe and his team more trouble, but with Kupe's intelligent mind, they were able to outsmart the Giant Wheke and return home safely. He threw calabashes into the waters to imitate bodies. And just as the octopus emerged from the sea, Kupe leaped onto the beast and struck its head and ended it's life. That fatal blow was given the name Arapaoa, which will also become the first name given to the South Island of Aotearoa (present day New Zealand). After the fight Kupe was able to travel back home safe and sound to surprise his family.

After resting at Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Kupe and his whānau (family) traveled out to sea once more. Before they left, Kupe named two islands in the harbor after his daughters- Matiu (present day Somes Island) and Makaro (present day Ward Island). Kupe and his crew traveled to the southern coast. Stopping first to gather shellfish. There they also used some bull kelp to make some containers. That place was named Rimu Rapa, meaning 'flattened seaweed' (present day Sinclairs Head).

When they were all stocked up on supplies, they continued their journey up the west coast to Porirua, where they stopped at an island off the coast. Matiu, (One of Kupe's daughters) was so proud of her father defeating the Giant Wheke and crossing the ocean of Kiwa that she wanted to name their newfound island Te Mana-o-Kupe-ki-Aotearoa. This island is still known today as Mana Island.

While exploring the harbor of Porirua, they came across a large white stone in the water. Kupe decide to use this rock as an anchor for Matahorua. He named this anchor Hukatai, after its white color.

Kupe and his whānau traveled down south to Arapaoa (present day South Island). They restocked on supplies and headed west. Their journey brought them to a river that Kupe named Arahura, meaning 'the way opened up'.

## Pounamu

The explorers didn't discover people, but found a beautiful stone that was plentiful in the rivers. This stone, called pounamu, was not only recognized for its beauty and luscious green color, but also for its tool making properties. One particular type of pounamu had white flecks running throughout the stone. This quality closely resembled the inanga (whitebait) that the travelers caught in their fishing nets. Kupe's wife, Hine-te-uira-i-waho named that stone Inanga for that very reason.

aveled westward until there was no more land to explore. They found themselves at the southern coast of South Island. There the land was inhabited by seals and penguins. Kupe told his traveling companion Hine-waihau "Leave your pets here to dwell on this Island, for there are no people here." The seals and penguins were left to stay on this island which is now named Te Waipounamu or Te Waka-a-Māui.

Kupe and his crew travelled back to Te Ika-a-Māui (North Island) and sailed up the west coast. Along their journey they encountered Mana Island and Kapiti Island. It was said that Kupe severed these islands from mainland. This has been recorded in a song and has been passed down from generations.

They continued north and found themselves at the beginning of the Whanganui river. Since it was so windy there, Kupe named the spot Te Kaihau-o-Kupe (Kupe's windeating).

During their exploration, one of Kupe's members drowned while trying to cross the river to harvest some korau (wild cabbage). The man's name was Pawa, so the named the place Kauarapawa.

They left the Whanganui river and travelled up to Pātea. Kupe planted some karaka seeds. He then returned safely back to Hawaiki. When they got back, Kupe retold this story to Turi. Turi then captained the waka Aotea and settled down with his people in Pātea.

Kupe traveled up the coast of Te Ika-a-Māui until they came to a harbor. This place was so bountiful of sea life that Kupe's daughter Hine-te-uira asked if they could take possession of that place. Kupe happily agreed and the tohunga recited their karakia (prayers) and placed a stone of urutapu (named Tamahaere) at the entrance. This ceremony was very sacred and that place is still considered to be tapu (sacred) today.

The explorers feasted and celebrated at a place called Tarata-rotorua, then prepared for the long journey back to Hawaiki. They named the harbor Hokianga, meaning 'the returning place', because that was the way that Kupe and his people took to return.

When they returned to their homeland, they were asked so many questions about their adventure. The explorers told them all of their stories. They told them the stories of the tall trees and the mountains that seemed to touch the sky. They told them about rivers full of fish, the gorgeous pounamu stones, and the different types of creatures that they had seen. The people were so enticed by these stories and wanted to see the land for themselves. Kupe's stories started to spread around the land and more and more waka's were being built. Many of the people decided to start a new life at this newly discovered land.

This was the start of the Maori people, all because Kupe chased the Giant Wheke across the ocean to a new land called Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud.

## Sources

* http://eng.mataurangamaori.tki.org.nz/Support-materials/Te-Reo-Maori/Maori-Myths-Legends-and-Contemporary-Stories/Kupe-s-travels-around-Aotearoa