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Port Molyneux : the story of Maori and pakeha in South Otago : a centennial history : commemorating the landing of George Willsher and his companions at Willsher Bay, June 28, 1840 : with a programme for the unveiling of the centennial cairn, erected by the Clutha County Council, June 28, 1940

Rakaihaitu: The Great Digger Of Lakes

Rakaihaitu: The Great Digger Of Lakes.

To some people the “Uruao” canoe is a mythical one, and Rakaihaitu is a mythical hero. In the Journal of the Polynesian Society, volume 27, page 142, Mr. Beattie sets down an old tradition:—

“The Uruao canoe brought here the people called Waitaha, Te Kahui–tipua, and Te Kahui–roko, who were the same kind of people as Toi and Rauru…

“It brought here the people of Matiti, and landed on that (North) Island, which was full of people, so they came on to this island, which had no man on it…

“Rakaihaitu and his men started to go through the middle of the island, and he took his spade Tu–Whakaroria to dig the inland lakes and the lakes near the sea. The names of those lakes are Takapo, Pukaki, Ohou, Hawea, Wanaka, Whakatipu–wai–Maori page 29 (Lake Wakatipu), and Whakatipu–wai–tai (Lake McKerrow). He went on to Te Anau and down the Waiau River till he came to the end of the island, where he left people… He then returned by Te Roto–nui–o–whatu (now called Lake Tuakitoto …) Maranuku (district of Port Molyneux), Waihora (Lake Waihola), Kaikarae (now called Kaikorai), Wainono (Lake Studholme), Okahu (lagoon at Otaia), Te Aitarakihi (near Waitara–kao), Waihora (Lake Ellesmere), and Wairewa (Lake Forsyth).”

In South Island tradition this first canoe “Uruao” brought the earliest, people; the “Takitimu” brought the next wave.