Te Arawa – Kaitiaki of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes

Abstract

I start this morning by reciting what we call a patere talking about Te Arawa's interest and relationship to the lakes and the water. Matawhaura is our mountain on Lake Rotoiti. When I went to school in Auckland we travelled on the New Zealand Road Service transport bus, returning for the holidays along the Mamaku ranges. Those that came from Lake Rotoiti always looked out to see the lake and the mountain Matawhaura. As soon as we saw it a little touch of emotion welled up in our hearts. Mataatua people living in Whakatane felt the same thing when they travelled back home, descending the Rotoma hill, they looked out for Putauaki (Mt Edgecumbe). It gave them the same feeling of emotion.