|| First Peoples
The land of Aotearoa is unique, for it is commonly considered to have the shortest human history of any other country in the world. The islands in the pacific remained undiscovered by humans until the thirteenth century--approximately 1280 CE. The first to set foot on the land were Polynesians from Eastern Polynesia. Common belief says they came from the island of Hawaiki (not to be confused with Hawaii), a place that is considered to be both a physical location and a spiritual one. These people would settle on Aotearoa and become the Maori. There they remained undisturbed, until their rediscovery by white explorers in 1642.
|| As Told by Maori Myth
Mythology is a huge part of Maori culture, and helps to explain many aspects of their life: the weather, their traditions, their creation, as well as how they came to arrive at Aotearoa. Among the Maori, they often credit the discovery of Aotearoa to Kupe--a fisherman and chieftain from long ago who sailed the first canoe to Aotearoa.
As the story goes, Kupe was the leader of the peoples of Hawaiki. Every season, he would go out with the fisherman and return with canoes laden with fish--gifts from the gods Tangaroa and Hinemoana. The people would gather and divide the catch so everyone had an equal share.
However, one morning, when the fishermen set off for their day's work, no fish tugged on their lines or caught in their nets. When they would check their lines, the bait would be gone. All day they tried to catch fish, but by the time they returned in the evening, they were empty handed. Kupe called a meeting to discuss the problem, thinking that perhaps they had angered the gods. He resolved to find out exactly what was going on.
The next day, the fisherman tried again. But once more, no fish where caught. When Kupe pulled in his line, he noticed that the hook was covered by a slimy substance. He recognized it as from an octopus. When he returned, he traveled to the other side of the island to speak with Muturangi, the chief who ruled there. Kupe knew that Muturangi kept a giant octopus as a pet, so he asked Muturangi if his octopus was responsible. Muturangi laughed and responded, "I don't tell my pet when to eat or what to eat. If it chooses to eat your bait or your fish for that matter, then that's what it does."
As the story goes, Kupe was the leader of the peoples of Hawaiki. Every season, he would go out with the fisherman and return with canoes laden with fish--gifts from the gods Tangaroa and Hinemoana. The people would gather and divide the catch so everyone had an equal share.
However, one morning, when the fishermen set off for their day's work, no fish tugged on their lines or caught in their nets. When they would check their lines, the bait would be gone. All day they tried to catch fish, but by the time they returned in the evening, they were empty handed. Kupe called a meeting to discuss the problem, thinking that perhaps they had angered the gods. He resolved to find out exactly what was going on.
The next day, the fisherman tried again. But once more, no fish where caught. When Kupe pulled in his line, he noticed that the hook was covered by a slimy substance. He recognized it as from an octopus. When he returned, he traveled to the other side of the island to speak with Muturangi, the chief who ruled there. Kupe knew that Muturangi kept a giant octopus as a pet, so he asked Muturangi if his octopus was responsible. Muturangi laughed and responded, "I don't tell my pet when to eat or what to eat. If it chooses to eat your bait or your fish for that matter, then that's what it does."
Kupe then said, "Then I will slay your pet, Te Wheke o Muturangi, and it will never trouble my people again."
Kupe and his people set out building a canoe, a giant sea-going canoe that could survive long voyages. He stocked it with all sorts of supplies for the trip ahead, and when it was completed, he set out with his wife Hine-te-Aparangi and many warriors and fishermen of his tribe.
When they found Te Wheke o Muturangi, they fought the giant creature, slashing at its tentacles as it reached from the water to grip the canoe. The monster, angry and in pain, finally reared its head from the water. When this happened, Kupe pointed his weapon at Te Wheke and chanted a spell so that it could no longer sink below the water and hide. Then, Te Wheke was forced to flee across the surface of the ocean. Kupe and his men pursued the creature. They sailed for many weeks and their supplies began to dwindle, though they could never catch up to Te Wheke. Eventually, Hine-te-Aparangi noticed a long white cloud in the distance. She pointed it out, and when they sailed to it, they discovered land. They decided to call the land Aotearoa--"land of the long white cloud."
They replenished their food and water from the island and continued to pursue Te Wheke down the coast. Eventually, they trapped Te Wheke in a harbor where it could not flee. Another great battle commenced. It appeared as if Te Wheke might win, but Kupe grabbed a bundle of gourds and threw them overboard to distract the monster. The monster attacked the gourds, thinking they were a human, and Kupe used this distraction to leap onto Te Wheke's head and strike the fatal blow. At last, Te Wheke was dead.
This was how Kupe discovered the land of Aotearoa.
Kupe and his people set out building a canoe, a giant sea-going canoe that could survive long voyages. He stocked it with all sorts of supplies for the trip ahead, and when it was completed, he set out with his wife Hine-te-Aparangi and many warriors and fishermen of his tribe.
When they found Te Wheke o Muturangi, they fought the giant creature, slashing at its tentacles as it reached from the water to grip the canoe. The monster, angry and in pain, finally reared its head from the water. When this happened, Kupe pointed his weapon at Te Wheke and chanted a spell so that it could no longer sink below the water and hide. Then, Te Wheke was forced to flee across the surface of the ocean. Kupe and his men pursued the creature. They sailed for many weeks and their supplies began to dwindle, though they could never catch up to Te Wheke. Eventually, Hine-te-Aparangi noticed a long white cloud in the distance. She pointed it out, and when they sailed to it, they discovered land. They decided to call the land Aotearoa--"land of the long white cloud."
They replenished their food and water from the island and continued to pursue Te Wheke down the coast. Eventually, they trapped Te Wheke in a harbor where it could not flee. Another great battle commenced. It appeared as if Te Wheke might win, but Kupe grabbed a bundle of gourds and threw them overboard to distract the monster. The monster attacked the gourds, thinking they were a human, and Kupe used this distraction to leap onto Te Wheke's head and strike the fatal blow. At last, Te Wheke was dead.
This was how Kupe discovered the land of Aotearoa.