Taranaki has been peopled since ancient times. Wi Pokuku, a Ngai Tahu leader and teacher at the Moeraki Whare Wananga said Te Kahui Tipua (a race of giants) and Te Kahui Roko were brought to NZ with the Waitaha. That the Kahui Tipua came out with the Waitaha is also maintained by the South Island Wairewa tribe.The placenames attest to this, there’s the Waitaha Stream, and a Kahui Road at Rahotu between Opunake and New Plymouth.
There are also places named after the Turehu.
As well as Turehu Street, there’s Turehu Hill and Turehu Stream on the western flanks of Mount Taranaki; “Passing above the Big Pyramid and beneath a long line of bluffs above the Kahui moss slopes, the route goes just above Turehu Hill (1420m), Source: Climb NZ.
Climbing to the col above Turehu, there is this view of the pyramids and the stony river in the distance. Source: Zoneblue: Taranaki Landscapes
According to Rāwiri Taonui the Maruiwi were from the Kahutara canoe which made landfall at Ngāmotu near New Plymouth, along with the Taikōria and Ōkoki canoes. The descendants of the three crews were later known as Te Tini-o-Maruiwi, Te Tini-o-Ruatāmore, Te Tini-o-Taitāwaro, Te Tini-o-Pananehu, Koaupari and Te Wīwini.
According to DoC, Koaupari built the original Ōtātara Pā in Hawkes Bay. Ngati-ti-Koaupari were exterminated at Mohaka, Hawkes Bay. [See “the end of this people“ Journal Polynesian Society, Vol. XV., p. 25.]
The Journal of the Polynesian Society of 1907 records in its History and Traditions of the Taranaki Coast mention of a race of people descended from Ngu in Muri-whenua (Northland) who lived amongst Taranaki iwi (JPS 1907, vol 16:134). It is also said that when Kupe called in at Kāwhia on his voyage down the Taranaki coast he saw people he called the Turehu and again at Pātea (JPS 1907 vol 16:150). It is also said that they were a fairer skinned people which might explain the association between Turehu and ghosts or fairies.
This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.
The Maruiwi in Taranaki were known as Te Kahui Maunga. They lived all the way along the coast from Taranaki to Wellington, as did the Waitaha and Maruiwi. The Te Atiawa tribe state the Te Kāhui Maunga were the earliest ancestors of the Taranaki people. They were known as the Kāhui Ao, Kāhui Rangi, Kāhui Pō and Kāhui Atua, collectively called Te Kāhui Maunga. Kahui means a flock, a name which is only applied to the tangata-whenua people.
“They occupied Mimi Maunganui (the mountain preceding Taranaki), Ruatupua (Pouakai), and Ruatawhito (Kaitake) ranges. Their principle village was Karakatonga, situated high up in the heart of the Waiwhakaiho river valley. When the new mountain surfaced the people temporarily evacuated the site with many also perishing.
The journey of Taranaki from the central plateau has been recounted for centuries. It is an account that describes cataclysmic volcanic activity.” Source: Taranaki Iwi, Our History
Wikipedia states Ngāti Awa trace their ancestry to the Mataatua canoe while some Te Āti Awa trace their origins to the Tokomaru canoe and others remember the connection to the Kaahui people or the people “that walked here before the floods … ” *(?) Source: Wikipedia, Te Ati Awa
*(?) Regarding the floods, see the section ‘Pananehu, Nukutere canoe and the Flood’ on the page relating to the Maruiwi.
An ancient race of people living at Patea
A people named Te Kahui-toka were found living at Patea when Turi, captain of the ‘Aotea’ arrived there. Note again the word kahui as a name for a tribe. Their names were:—Tokanui, Tokaroa, Toka-whareroa, Toka-kahura and Toka-potiki, probably all brethren. Note:- Tokoroa was a chief of the Ngati Kahupungapunga people, a tribe that was a division of Ruatamore.
Taikehu was the chief of the tribe living at Patea Heads when the Aotea arrived. The Patea river was named ‘Te Awa nui a Taikehu.’
Source: Tangata Whenua: The ancient inhabitants of Taranaki
Colonisation of Te Kāhui Maunga by Polynesians
“The settlement of Taranaki is best described in two eras. The original inhabitants were known as the Kāhui people. The Kāhui people established knowledge systems in and around the wider Taranaki area. They held mana over the lands and gave meaning to many of the Kainga along the coast. Source: Te Atiawa
The arrival of the Kurahaupo kin from Hawaiki foreshadowed a new period of occupation and interaction between the Kahui Maunga and Hawaiki people. This era was known as ‘ngā uruwaka’.
When the Polynesian groups arrived from Hawaiki, marriages soon produced a mix of Kāhui Maunga and Polynesian people. The influx of new migrants also created tension and many conflicts ensued. The Kāhui people were forced to relocate into various places along the western seaboard.” Source: Taranaki Iwi
Artifacts
Besides place names there are some artifacts, like this raincape called a “Kahu toi” at the Wanganui Museum.
AN ANCIENT MAORI OVEN ON MOUNT EGMONT
In 1929 an Maori oven or umu was found under two layers of volcanic ash by roadmen excavating a road for the Stratford Mountain House. A large totara, seven feet in circumference, was growing above the oven, some of its roots, about one inch thick, actually penetrating it. Similar volcanic material was still to be found in the forks of living trees and on dead logs. A matai supporting scoria was felled in 1883, the annual rings counted and found to be 600.
Oliver, W. R. B. “AN ANCIENT MAORI OVEN ON MOUNT EGMONT.” The Journal of the Polynesian Society, vol. 40, no. 2(158), 1931, pp. 73–80. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20702353. Accessed 3 June 2025.
There are rock engravings with indecipherable symbols, petroglyphs all down the Taranaki Coast.
This petroglyph stone was found partly buried at Te Namu Pa, Opunake according to E.M. Griffin –
Erin M. Griffin, Tales of Te Namu and Hori Teira
Sadly these ancient rock petroglyphs (below) at Tongaporutu has been lost to the surf. Note the big foot with six toes. “They are the last signs of what we know as Te Kahui Potama, which are the ancient people and they were known as the Maeroa,” says Ngati Wai spokesperson Haumoana White. Source: Transparency NZ
The Maero or Maeroa
Te Kahui Tipua were the ancient people known as the Maeroa.
“There are stories current on this coast of a people called Maero, who are described as wild men of the woods, and who probably were the remains of some of the original people driven to the forests and mountains by the incoming crews of the heke. Even so late as the fifties of last century, they were supposed to inhabit the great forests in inland Taranaki.
They have sometimes been confused with the Patu-pai-arehe, or fairies—so called—but this is quite a modern idea. At Puke-koikoi, on the Whanganui river, was a hill occupied by the Maero before that river was inhabited by the present tribes, and which the Maero abandoned after the place had been visited by the newcomers— they did so, because the tapu of their homes was desecrated by the invasion of newcomers.” Source: Tanganta Whenua, The ancient inhabitants of Taranaki
The Maero were displaced by the Maori and forced to dwell in inhospitable alpine regions.
New Zealand’s earliest wooden artifacts
Stopping at the Museum of South Taranaki in Patea on our way back to Wanganui, we saw the earliest wooden artifacts found in NZ, discovered along the coast at Waitore near Patea. One theory is that Waitore was hit by a tsunami and the area was covered by sand.
No doubt there will be other sites buried under metres of black sand. The wild west coast beaches are not tranquil like the east coast.
The wooden head dug up from the Waitore Swamp is among the oldest wooden artifacts found in NZ. It wasn’t displayed at the museum – who knows where that’s gone. I only know about it from an old book, The art workmanship of the Maori race in New Zealand.
Kohi Rock Art
There is rock art on private land near Waverley, which has been attributed in the Journal of the Polynesian Society to the Waitaha. I saw this wooden replica at the Museum of South Taranaki mentioned above.
Whale tooth form, Waitotara
This whale tooth form was found at Waitotara near Waverley. I saw it at the Auckland Museum.
Te Kāhui Rere (the flying people) were an early tribe who lived around Waitōtara. They intermarried with the people who arrived in south Taranaki aboard the Aotea canoe.
The Tribrach
The strangest, most baffling artifact came from ‘Okehu’ near Waitotara. Okehu used to be called Maxwell, but is now confusingly renamed as ‘Pokaraka’ by the local Maori and the Wanganui District council.
The reason the tribrach is baffling, besides its unknown use, is because a similar tribrach was found in the Isle of Wight in the UK, and it’s ancient. I’ve been to the museum on the Isle of Wight where the artifact is kept.
I only know about the Okehu Tribrach because it was mentioned in the Journal of the Polynesian Society as a Waitaha artifact.
The Tribrach found on the Isle of Wight
According to the Vectis Archaeological Trust, the Isle of Wight’s tribrach that was artistically crafted as a lasting symbol some four to five thousand years ago.
What are we to make of this? The simplest explanation is the best, at one time the ancient world was united as one people.
“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is” – Winston Churchill.
The Waitaha
See related page on The Waitaha
Links
Kohi Cave engraving, Waverley, South Taranaki
Waitore site
The Waitore site, located between the Patea and Whenuakura Rivers, is currently the earliest
dated assemblage of wooden artefacts in New Zealand. The site was buried under metres of sand and only uncovered by a stream cutting into the dune. Source: DOC, Archaeology of the Taranaki-Wanganui region
Petroglyphs
A recently discovered petroglyph at Ornata, Taranaki
Toka-a-Rauhotu Rock near Cape Egmont
Tangata Whenua: Spiral petroglyphs of Polynesia
NZShortWalks 