Wahiao's War-Party.

Nine generations ago (I add a generation to Kepa's eight to bring it up to date), about 225 years, the chief Wahiao assembled a war-party of twice seventy men of Tuhourangi in this geyser valley to march against the Ngati-Tama tribe at Rotorua. The ope fell in at the foot of one of the level-topped pumice hills in the valley. As was customary, a war dance was performed before setting out on the expedition. At the shouted words of command, each rank in succession sprang up from its kneeling position, with spear at the ready, and leaped into the wild dance of the peruperu with a roaring chant of battle, and immediately afterwards started off on the march. This swift setting in motion, the “Whakarewarewatanga” (root-word “rewa”) of the warriors, was the incident that gave its name to the pa which Wahiao built about that time on the hill-top. The full and original name of that spot is “Te Whakarewarewatanga-o-te-Ope - a - Wahiao,” meaning “The Upspringing, or Starting, of the Army of Wahiao.” The name was, in course of time, extended to the whole valley. The historic hill called Te Puia (now a burial place) was the first pa built in the valley. The Whakarewarewa hill stands beyond it, near the base of that steep green hill Pohaturoa, overlooking the wonderful glen on the east.

So Whakarewarewa is a name of story and some mana. The full title will be found a useful jaw-limbering exercise in Maori pronunciation. (You may practice making a Maori chant of it).

There are several literal interpretations of which Whakarewa is capable. One is to float on high, as the clouds of steam drift up above the geysers and hot springs, and another is to melt or dissolve. But the war-party story is the authentic tradition.