64.

THE CRATERS AND THE MAORIS - Dick Stevenson. The whole of the Auckland isthmus from Otahuhu to the Whau was called by the Maoris Tamaki, and was for them a favourite place of residence. Kumara and taro thrived in the warm volcanic soil while there was easy access to the sea on both sides and ample supplies of mataitai or fruits of the ocean, an important part of Maori food. If we add to this the unique geological structure of the area with its score or more of natural volcanic fortresses it is little wonder that other tribes had a proverb "Tamaki makaurau" - Tamaki of a hundred lovers. During the eighteenth century One Tree Hill, Maungakiekie (mountain of the kiekie bushes), was the home of the great chief Te Kiwi of the Waiohua, who with the other tribes of Ngaiwi and Taou jointly held the isthmus of Tamaki. The pa at Maungakiekie was strongly fortified and at that time contained at least 4000 people. Mt. Eden, Maungawhau (mountain of the whau trees) still shows signs of its extensive fortifications and indeed so bitter were the battles fought for its possession that it in later years was unoccupied and declared tapu. Probably the most extensive crater system in Auckland is seen at Three Kings, which was called Te Tatua (the girdle), it being the stronghold of three brothers. The Big King, the only one not scarred by quarrying, was known as Nga pari-toka-a-Aaniti (the steep rocks) while the northern hill was Koheranui (kohekohe trees and sunshine), Mt. Smart was known as Rarotonga (the lower south) and is said to have been named by the Tainui immigrants in commemoration of their Pacific home. Because of its fertility the district we now call Ihumatao was a popular one, while it possessed as well several volcanic vantage points. Gabriel's Hill, Waikomokia (the entered water) or Ihumatao (Matao's nose), was surrounded by a swamp while there was also (the little hill), Ihumatao mountain (Moerangi, the sleeping sky) and Ellet's mountain (, the mountain of certainty). Mangere mountain (hill of the lazy) had a large pa and it was here that the Waiohua made their last but futile stand against the Taou who were avenging the treacherous attack made on them by the warlike Te Kiwi. Tamaki Head at Glendowie is an old crater and was once the site of a pa called Taurere, named after the daughter of a famous chief. At East Tamaki there is Smale's mountain or Pukeotara (the hill of Tara) and also Pukekiwiriki (hill of the little kiwi) or Paritaiuru (the sloping cliff^ which is a low but extensive tuff cone with a small and indistinct explosion crater on the southeast base. Mt. Hobson was called Remuwera (the burnt kilt), while in the same district there is the now rather indistinct cone of Little Rangitoto (Maungarahiri, the hill of welcome). Mt. Wellington held a considerable pa and was known as Mangarei (hill of the ever watch• ful). Mt. St. John was Te Kopuke (the hillock) although it was sometimes called Puketitiko (the hill of the shellfish). Mt. Albert was Owairaka, after Wairaka, a chieftainess of the Ngatiawa tribe. Mt. Roskill was called Pukotapapa (the flat- topped hill). At Mt. Richmond there lived the chieftain Tahuhunui (Great Tahuhu) and hence Otahuhu (of Tahuhu) Further south there is Pigeon Mountain (Pakuranga, a small number of people) and Mt. Wiri (Manurewa, high birds). The southernmost of the Auckland series is McLaughlin's Hill, (Puhinui, the large eel). On the other side of the harbour we have North Head (Takapuna, the spring), Mt. Victoria or Takarunga (the higher elevation) and Mt. Cambria or Takararo (the lower elevation). Finally, the sprawling Rangitoto (blood-red sky) which the Maoris imagined to have been ejected from the spot where now stands.