The Legend of Hakitekura

Hakitekura was the daughter of Kāti Māmoe chief Tūwiriroa. She was born and raised in the region.

One day when she was in her eyrie (eagle's nest) on Te Taumata-o- Hakitekura (Ben Lomond), behind the gondola area,Hakitekura spied some girls trying to outswim each other down at the Whakatipu-wai-māori lakeside. Some were more successful in their attempts at swimming the lake than others, but no-one had managed to swim right across the bracingly cold waters.

So Hakitekura made a plan. She went to her father and asked for a kauati (firestick) and a dry bunch of raupō. He obliged, and she bound these very tightly in flax to keep them dry. Next morning very early, Hakitekura managed, through great strength of mind and body, to swim across the entire lake. She lit a fire on the other side on the point that has since been named Te-Ahi-a-Hakitekura.

As well as warming her after her chilly endurance test, the fire she ignited served as a beacon for her retrieval.

Flames crept up the mountain-side and left the rocks black, which is still apparent today. The people of Tahuna noted the smoke and prepared to launch canoes and mōkihi (raupō kayaks), to see if the fire had been lit by an enemy.

It was then that Tūwiriroa recollected his daughter's request for a kauati (fire stick) and dry tinder. A search for her was made. Finding her gone, he realised that she'd swum across the lake. A waka was sent over to carry her back.

Hakitekura became famous as a result of her bravery and endurance. Her feat has been immortalised in local place names.

Maybe Hakitekura's adventurous nature never left her, as a well remembered waiata (song) composed by her lover, Korokiwhiti, shows she may have disappeared on various other missions. The remembered and documented waiata goes like this:

Rua pō a te tatari ai au (Two nights have I waited)
Kāore i hoki mai (And you have not returned)
Kai whea koe i te maru awatea? (Where are you in the soft daylight?)
E tata te hoki mai! (O! That you may soon return.)

* Story of Hakitekura referenced from The Journal of Polynesian Society by Herries Beattie, and Māori Place Names by J. Anderson.

Marks of an Ancestor

Ngāi Tahu Names

Te Taumata-o-Hakitekura is the Māori place name for the spur on Ben Lomond. [More...]

Hakitekura

Hakitekura was the daughter of Kāti Māmoe chief Tūwiriroa. She was born and raised in the region. [More...]

Image Gallery

View a collection of still images that capture the dawn blessing at the Post Office Precinct. [More...]

Video Gallery

A collection of video tells the story of Ngai Tahu's connection with Queenstown,the tradition of Hakitekura, the pouwhenua project and the art works. [More...]

Inside Issue 44

Holly's Got Spirit

Iwisphere

Marks Of An Ancestor

Return of Mo Tātou

Tāne Ora: recover the man

Artist Tai Kerekere

 

Issue #44 Published Sept 2009
© Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu