Place names along the rivers and tributaries

Mataura Falls before developmentThis section will begin at the mouth of the Mata Ura (Mataura) river and then will progress up river to the source tributaries and mountains.

Where there is no reference given, this means the names were taken from Beattie’s Māori Place Names of Otago published in 1944.

Beattie has supplied most of these names but this has required checking through his various lists. For instance in 1944 he stated he was not including names from previously published lists but in fact did so for some but not for others and he did not include many of the names published by Roberts.

Harold Ashwell provided names he had gathered over many years from both written and oral sources but he does not source his names.

In this collection the names from the Ashwell name list will be identified in the main text as he is the only living kaumatua who has show enough interest and dedication to gather these names, albeit his list is marred by his lack of scholarly training in methodology. He does not however lack a methodology designed to ensure accuracy. For instance where he has found a name but cannot place it he has left a blank place in his lists – hence names such as Waitane and Ari have blank spaces beside them whereas Waihoe has Waioihi with a question mark beside it.

Some of the contradictions here could be explored further by accessing the National Geographic Board Archives.

Uretura: Fortrose, to the east of the Mata Ura estuary. Or the rise at Fortrose.

O-wi or Toetoes: The first is the Māori name and the second the name given by whalers. At the estuary of the Mata Ura.

Kuku-o-hineatea: a little cove to one side of O-wi or Toetoes.

Tuaki: a point in the estuary.

Oteramika: Tributary of the Mataura on the western side below Wyndham but according to Beattie’s informants the word should be Oteraumaka, a name that applied to the bush out of which the stream comes, while the correct Māori name for the stream was Waitaka. Ashwell gives O Te Raumaka and describes it as being once the name of an area of bush or a place of large area of bush, the name being corrupted to Oteramika, and when the bush was cut down the district became known by the name.

Titiroa: Tributary of the Mataura downriver from the Kuriwao stream. Tributaries of the Titiroa are the Waimahaka and Habukanini or Opurakanini. See also Hapukinini.

Hapukinini/Hapu-kinini/Habukinini: According to Roberts the next tributary of the Mataura after the Titiroa, going upstream but according to Beattie, as Hapukanini or Habukinini, a tributary of the Titiroa. Beattie cites a map of 1853 on which it appeared as Opurakanini.

Kuriwao: Beattie gives it as a tributary of the Mataura downriver from the Mokareta (see below). Ashwell gives it as a tributary of the Waipahi and Kaeaea as an alternative name for the place called Kuriwao on the back road between Clinton and Mataura. Roberts gives Kuriwao as the name of an isolated hill, close to the Mataura, just above the Mataura Island.

Mokareta/Makoruta/Mokoruta: Wyndham River. Though Beattie takes the name Mokareta from Kettle and Garvie’s 1856 map in 1944, in his 1930/31 series he acknowledges collecting the names Makoruta and Mokoruta from two different informants but he does not explore which is the more correct.

Te-pohatu-a-te-rakitierea: The stone of the chief Te Rakitierea – where the Wyndam River enters the Mata Ura.

Mimihau: Tributary of the Mataura on the eastern side, after the Mokareta or Makoruta or Mokoruta, going up the Mataura. Beattie notes that this streams name is distinguished by the many variations, at least 6, in its spelling, but that ironically “its real name” is Waiharakeke. Ashwell gives as tributaries of the Mimihau, the Waihana, Waiarakiki and Oware.

Awa Kia: Ashwell gives as a stream south east of Clinton.

Hakataramea: Waimea Plains according to Ashwell

Haokoti: Ashwell gives Riversdale.

Haumuri: Croydon Bush. Also Ashwell. Beattie recorded a line of a waiata from Hone Rakiraki that included this name. It was sung by a young women of her young man as if she was at Tuturau watching him disappear round Hokanui hill.

Whaka mau atu u te koko o Haumuri, te Repaeka o tama Parititi, e i.

Hokonui/ Hokanui Hills: Hokonui and Hokanui appear sometimes to be variations of the one name from different periods and at others to be different names. Hokonui is the preference of iwi at Hokonui Runaka and the National Geographic Board at this time while in a previous era it appears the choice of the Board was Hokanui. Hokonui as a name also appears on the map as the place to the south of the eastern Hokonui hills and south west of Gore.

Hokonui refers to all of the hills while Hokanui refers to East Peak only according to Harold Ashwell. Beattie’s use of the word Hokonui confirms the application to East Peak but he also applies it to all of the hills. Roberts uses Hokanui in 1913.

In 1940 Basil Howard referred to the Hokonui Hundreds when talking about the setting aside of land there for iwi as an educational endowment, indicating Hokonui as a name has also been around for a long time.

Hiwiroa: From Roberts, the name given by the Government in 1907 to the school and Post Office opened at Longridge North.

Kahuika: Junction of Waikaka and Mataura rivers – see under nohoaka.

Kaeaea: Ashwell gives as another name for Kuriwao on the backroad between Mataura and Clinton. Roberts gives as a river near Poupoutunoa. It is also a name for the native bush falcon.

Kaikoura/Kaikora: Name of Gold creek, tributary of the Mataura near Otama and Okapua streams. Ashwell gives Kaikora and it being four miles north of Gore.

Kaipakura: Black Swamp at Balfour (does it exist today?). Pakura is the southern name for the pukeko. Ashwell in one list simply gives Balfour while in another gives as the Black Swamp at Balfour which was formerly known as Te Re Pakopako.

Kaiwaiau: A peak “away” behind Hokanui or East Peak of the Hokonui Hills. Ashwell has a place in the Hokonui Hills.

Kaiwera: Ashwell gives as situated, backroad between Clinton and Mataura (also see Kaeaea).

Kapeakete or Te Kapeakete: Probably Camel’s Back near east Gore.

Ka Puke Maeroero: Ashwell has Eyre Mountains.

Karororere: Hills near Wantwood, Mandeville – named “after a trustworthy man who lived three hundred years ago” in 1944. Ashwell gives simply, Wantwood.

Kauana: Ashwell gives as a place on the Lumsden Rail Line, Oreti River side of the Hokonui Hills.

Kaurawa: A tributary of the Mokoreta.

Kaweku: Ashwell gives as simply, south of Riversdale and translates it as a method of catching freshwater koura by using a tuft of fern.

Kiore: Simply a creek in the Ashwell Name list.

Kohai: Hill where Tutemakohu was buried according to some of Beattie’s informants – see also under Otaupiri and Taupiri. According to Ashwell the name of the urupa of Tu Te Makohu.

Kowhaka-ruru: The Pyramid Hill, also known as the home of the morepork.

Kurahaua: Ashwell gives as a hill at Mandeville said to be one of the bailers of the Takitimu canoe. See also Aaswhell under Te Tata o Kurahaoa. Possibly the same as ship Cone or Kurakoua, the name of the bailer of the Takitimu or typo in Cormack?

Mairarua: Stream and tributary of the Mataura before Tuturau?

Makarewa: Redan Burn – tributary of the Mokareta/Makoruta/Mokoruta.

Makohu: Short version of the name Te Wairua o Te Makohu, for Hastie’s Creek. See under Wairuamakohu

Manuka: Charlton Creek, named after the small son of Paiherewao – he died at the creek. Ashwell also has Charlton Creek.

Māori Rure: Ashwell has Edendale. Roberts has Māori Rura as Edendale Estate. Roberts states of the bush there in the 1850s, on ground slightly higher than the surrounding swamp, had a very evil reputation among Māori, being said to be haunted by a Tipua. He also states that this would have perhaps been the reason why MacKenzie was said to have hidden the proceeds from stolen sheep there. Given this story, Ashwells use of rure (as cast out) makes better sense than Roberts rura though he also uses ruri in another part of his name list.

Maraerua: Beattie in 1944 just gives Shank’s Place. Is this the same as Marairua (see above) which Roberts gives, or Mara-i-rua, as a stream a little below Tuturau, (and not Mararua which he says it is sometimes spelt as).

Maruawai: Plain on which Gore is built. Beattie describes the name as meaning valley of water hollow with water in it from its propensity to flood. The name derives from great floods of the past, hence the flood banks protecting the town today. If the first ‘a’ is a long ‘a’ (aa), then Beattie is correct to translate it as water valley, but if it is a short ‘a’, then it could be translated as Maru of water, that is the power or authority of water.

Matai: Ashwell gives four miles from Centre Bush – in the Oreti river valley.

Mataura: There is of course the present town of Mataura but according to Ashwell it was also the name of Garston.

Maurirere: Ashwell gives as the name for Morton Mains.

Mikioe: A place in the middle of the Hokanui Hills. Ashwell has Mikioi, a place in the Hokonui Hills.

Mokanui: Roberts refers to the Mokanui Range and a seam of brown coal that was found at a corner of the range as well as along the banks of the Mataura from the mouth of the Waiarikiki to to the falls, but this name cannot be found in the Tumonz software.

Moturata: Ashwell gives simply a hill without locating it. Roberts gives as a hill behind Tuturau, by then called Ironwood, a part translation of Moturata and presumable referring to a clump of rata like an island in the rest of thelandscape.

Nukunai/Nokomai: Should be Nukumai according to Beattie’s informants and Harold Ashwell.

Okaiterua: Ashwell has Caroline for Okaiterua, but Dipton for O Kai Te Rua.

Okapua: Stream – tributary of Otakaritu states Beattie in 1944 while in 1930 he had placed it as a tributary of the Mataura between Gold and Otama creeks. According to Thomsons Reconnaisance Survey of the interiour map of 1857, his 1930 assessment is right. Ashwell gives as stream that joins the Mataura from the east.

Omaeawa: A lagoon that once (or still does?) existed on the flat just after Pokaikakariki (see below). Ashwell gives as a lagoon on the east side of the Mataura river north of Gore.

Oniho: Beattie was unable to place this tributary stream of the Mataura except that it was on its eastern side below the Maraerua. In the Ashwell name list it is simply Hokonui Hills.

Onuku: East Gore Terrace.

O Raki Ahua: Ashwell gives a hill in the Hokonui Hills and the source of the Waimumu stream.

Ore Haki: A hill – Ashwell name List but he does not give location except in Gore District.

Oreti: The river that is mostly out of the district concerned but which touches it near Lumsden and Caroline, so is included here, as are some of the places near it and similarly close to the hills separating the Oreti Vally from the Waimea watershed.

Otama: There are four waterways in the Gore district called Otama. One is the name of

Pinehill creek which flows into the Tunarere lagoon. A lagoon in the Charlton district, an eastern tributary stream of the Mataura another 10 miles up the river and a lagoon opposite it, are all called Otama while another lagoon nearby is called Otamaiti. Ashwell gives simply, 12 miles north off Gore.

Otamita: Tributary of the Waimea but Beattie stated it should be Otamatea, after Tamatea Pokai Whenua of the Takitimu canoe. This fits with the sumbolisms of the Waimea Plains being the sails of the Takitimu (see Waimea/Waimeha). Roberts gives Otamita and notes that its course was in the late 19the century, so “tortuous” that the Waimea railway had to cross it five times in less than halfmile. Ashwell gives simply “the residence of Tamita (pressed or held down).

Otakaramu or Otakaritu: This is now the name of a long stream that joins the Mataura from the East Gore side between Gore and Mataura. According to one of Beattie’s informants Otakaramu was once the name of a totara tree near East Gore and was then used to refer to the hills nearby. The creek that should bear the name according to Beattie, runs through a wide valley once known as Racecourse Paddock. Totaratahi is the name of a cliff face to one side of the valley because a lone totara tree once grew there. It is the same Totara tree that was called Otakaramu, which Beattie’s other informant referred to.

Kettle and Garvie’s 1856 map called this stream the Otakaritu while one of the present day Otakaramu’s branches was called Okapua (see also Okapua). Beattie believed that this name Otakaritu should have been Otekaretu, as he found out from “a well informed man at Colac” that Te Karetu was a chief who lived 16 generations ago and owned land from Poupoutunoa to Te Au Nui, that a long creek running into the Mataura some distance above the falls was named after him and Tamaipi creek at Trumble’s Station was named after a son of his.

Otaraia: Ashwell gives as a hill that is distinguished by its tent shaped form – on or near the Backroad between Clinton and Mataura (see also Kaeaea and Kaiwera).

Otapiri: Ashwell gives Otapiri Gorge. This Otapiri can easily be confused with the nearby Otaupiri Gorge or the Otapiri creek (see below). Both the Otapiri gorge and Otaupiri Gorge are on the Oreti river side of the hills separating the Oreti vally and the Waimea plains.

Otaupiri: Otaupiri refers to the name of the place and the hill nearby. One of Beattie’s informants told him that there was once a large totara tree on top of the hill Otaupiri and that Tutemakohu was buried underneath it. Another, however, remembered he died at Otaupiri but was taken to Omaui to be buried with Rakitauneke. According to the first the proper name for the hill was Taupiri while the nearby creek which Europeans call Otapiri was called Ohiriru.

Otu/Ota: The creek that joins the Mataura on the west side, after being joined by the Waihoa or Lowburn stream, further downstream than Maraerua on the east side. The contemporary map has Ota not Otu. However I think Beattie’s 1930/31 name Otu more accurate as Mantell in 1852 - 1853 also used the name Otu. Ashwell however also has Ota, creek, stating he does not know where it is.

O Te Popo: Ashwell gives Ryall Bush and the village of Te Rakitauneke in the Oreti valley.

O Te Rama Ika: Ashwell gives simply Gorge Road but does not lovate it. This is probably different to the above place Oteramika that Beattie’s informants believed should have been Oteraumaka, despite some similarities in spelling. Indeed this place, O Te Rama Ika, may be the cause of the confusion intimated by Beattie’s information.

Oteraumaka: See Oteramika and Oteraumaka.

Owai: Ashwell has simply, creek, stating that he does not know where it is.

Owara: Roberts gives as a small stream near Wyndham.

Owhare: Tributary of the Mokoruta/Makoruta/Mokareta .

Pae Here Kowao: Ashwell and Roberts give West Dome. Beattie gives Tarahaukapiti for West Dome – see Tarahaukapiti.

Pahiwi: From Roberts, in 1913 the name of an estate near Balfour Railway Station. But he believed this was given by a European.

Papa a Te Ware Wetuka: See Turaka Rakau a Raihe.

Papakao: Ashwell gives Black Umbrella Mountain. The Black Umbrella Range is between the Waikaka and Pomahaka rivers.

Papa Ka Rua: Ashwell gives a place in the Otapiri Gorge, meaning the two flats.

Paparoa: Creek that enters the Mataura on the eastern side, below Tewaipurapura. At the mouth of the Paparoa creek, where the old ford went across the Mataura, was a big rock called Puru.

Parawa: Beattie found Oteparawa for Mt Cameron on a 1879 Māori Map and implied in his comments that this made it seem that the name Parawa for a creek to the west of that mountain, and the name of a railway siding, was not a perversion of Paiherewao as previously thought. Ashwell has O Te Parawa but does not locate it.

Parititi: Greasy Corner. Also Ashwell.

Pikiraki: Beattie gives as a creek that enters the Mataura on the eastern side, below Paparoa. Roberts give Pikiraki as a knoll in the Tuturau reserve where the urupa is situated and Ashwell gives Pikiraki as the name of the Urupa.

Pohatuaterakitierea: The stone of the chief Rakitierea. A big rock where the Makoruta or Mokareta or Mokoruta joins the Mataura.

Pokaikakariki: Where the Manuka or Charlton creek leaves the terraces or hills. Beattie describes a “very tall clump of manuka” growing there. Is it still there? These are probably kanuka – cousin of manuka. See also under Mahika kai.

Pukemaira/Pukemaire: West Peak in the Hokonui Hills, 5 miles SE of Whakaoma or Ships Cone. See also Taipapuru.

Puke Aruhe: Ashwell gives as a hill on the Lumsden railway line, the Oreti river side of the Hokonui Hills.

Pukerau: Ashwell gives as stream that joins the Waikaka from the east and the name of the village.

Rakeahua/Rakiahua: Ashwell gives Rakiahua and Roberts gives Rakeahua - both as the name of the Dome Mountains and the name of Manaia’s famous weopong.

Takerehaka: Eyre Mountains where the Mataura river begins. On Thomsons 1857 Reconnaissance map this was spelt Takerahaka. Roberts gives as an alternative: Takarahaka. Ashwell gives Takere Haka or haka on the keel of a canoe.

Taketahaka: From Roberts, a portion of Takerehaka, or a bush on its side.

Taipapara: Ashwell gives a hill or peak next to Ship Cone (spelt Tai Papara). Roberts gives Taipapura or Taipapara as either Dunsdale Hill or Hedgehope Hill.

Taipopuru: Ashwell gives West Peak, Hokonui Hills and translates it as “Goblins Plug”.

Tamaipi: The name of a place near the Mataura falls – Beattie does not give an exact position but gives a Waitaha whakapapa beginning with Rakaihautu in which it is also the name of an ancestor.

Taohuata: The creek downstream of the Tapirikiore stream.

Tapirikiore: McDonald’s Creek. There were two creeks here before drainage works made them into one but the name Tapirikiore applied to both – translated by Beattie as Native Rats walking together. In one of his unusual namings of an informant, Beattie cited Toki Reko as giving it to the creek “below the gums” where the Otakaramu joined the Mataura. Another two informants gave it as also the name of a tributary of the Waipahi River, near Clinton.

Tarahaukapiti: Beattie in 1944 gives West Dome while Ashwell gives Dome Pass. However in 1916 Beattie gives it as another name for the battle of Waitaramea.

Taramahiti: Ashwell gives Mid Dome.

Tatakura: Hedgehope Stream. Ashwell has simply, Hedgehope.

Tataramoatahi: Dunsdale Stream. Ashwell also.

Taumatatanga Hei Kaungaroa: Ashwell gives Gore and the Long Ford.

Tauna Mou: Ashwell gives Branxholm.

Taupiri: Ashwell gives Hokonui Hills in one list and Tu Te Makohu’s pa in another – see also Otaupiri.

Te Au Nui Pihapiha Kanakana or Te Au Nui Piha Kana:

The full name for the Mataura falls more commonly called just Te Au Nui. Piha or pihapiha referred to the place as one where kanakana were caught (see above).

Beattie records in detail 2 catching operation at the falls (in his MS181, published, 1994) from one elder who had, with another, caught 9 sacks full of kanakana at the falls some 18 years previously or about 1902, and from another. The former caught their kanakana in the gorge below the falls and the freezing works while the latter referred to taking kanakana off the paperworks water wheel in the morning before the mill began work. Freezing works and

paperworks prevented Māori using the falls as they had done (built in 1882 and 1876 respectively) but they could still fish the gorge downstream. Beattie noted that about the year 1900 gold dredging so contaminated the water with silt and mining refuse that Māori ‘practically ceased’ to see the falls as an important Kanakana fishery. But still in the 1901 season ‘8 Māoris from as far north as Temuka’ came to the falls.

Beattie recorded the name of the rock cliff that hems the river in below the falls on the eastern side of the river, as Rerepari and the rocks at the head of the small island below the bridge as Oraukiwa.

Te Awamaraki: The first creek to enter the Mataura on the eastern side, below the position where the Waimumu once entered the Mataura on the western side.

Te Nohoaka o Te Paroparo Whenua: The Waimumu gorge also known as simply Paroparo – see histories. Also in Ashwell.

Te Goa: The name of the takatawhenua for the town of Gore after its establishment in the 19th century. This is of course a transliteration from the English into the Māori. It’s occurrence should not be ignored as it is a sign of the language’s vitality at that time that it could and did create Māori sounds out of the Pakeha sounds in new place names.

Te Kairere: Creek that enters the Mataura on the eastern side, below Pikiraki. Some call it Kairererere. Known to Pakeha in 1930 as Glover’s Creek.

Te Karetu: Beattie states this is a place near the Mataura Falls as well as being a name in a waitaha whakapapa beginnig with Te Rakaihautu.

Te Kutu Kaka: “Pyramid” – Ashwell Name List but he does not give a location except the Gore District. Presumably this is the Pyramid Hill referred to elsewhere.

Te Pito Kahika: See Turaka Rakau a Raihe

Te Raki Paka: Ashwell gives Mt Beaumont, but the lonely Mt Beaumont in Tumonz is in the mid Southern Alps region – is there another?

Te Raumaka: Bush on the hill above Edendale. In Ashwell also.

Te Re Pakopako: Ashwell gives as the Black Swamp, Balfour – see also Kaipakura.

Te Tata o Te Takitimu: Ashwell gives as a hill at or near West Dome – meaning the bailer of the Takitimu canoe.

Te Tata o Kurahaoa/Te Tataokurahaoa: Beattie gives Te Tataokurahaoa, the hump at Mandeville. While Ashwell gives Te Tata o Kurahaoa “the bailer of (the waka) Kurahaoa”, or Mandeville. See also Kurahaua.

Te Tipua: Beattie has this to say about this name: The alteration of the name Titipua to Te Tipua by the authorities did not meet with the approval of some of the old men as they considered Ti-tipua (the enchanted cabbage tree) was correct. See also Titipua.

Te Waipurapura: Creek that enters the Mataura on the eastern side below the Teawamaraki.

Timutimu: Ashwell gives Mt Wendon.

Titipua: Ashwell gives Lindhurst Creek, not shown on the TUMONZ map. See also Te Tipua.

Toetoe/Toitoi: Name of Fortrose used by early Pakeha, settlers and travelers.

Tohawata/Taohuata: Name on Kettle and Garvie’s 1856 map of a stream, probably the name of the Pleura but Beattie was informed by a someone usually reliable that it should have been Taohuata. Beattie thought it could otherwise be the name of Riverview Creek.

Tomogalak/Tawakaraki: Known today as Tomogalak and recorded as Tomagailak by Thomson in his 1857 survey. Beattie described it being pronounced as “Tommy Galic” by the “casual colonial” but he nevertheless found “after much inquiry…an ancient Māori” who said its correct name was Tawakaraki. Ashwell also gives for Tomogalak, Tawakaraki.

Tunarere: A lagoon near the junction of the Otakaramu Stream and the Mataura River.

Turaka Rakau a Raihe: Ashwell gives this as a small forest that was once within the triangle formed by Kamahi Seaward Bush and Morton Mains, along with the small forests of Te Pito Kahika, O Te Raumaka and Papa a Te Ware Wetuka.

Tutaewiwi: Beattie was unable to locate this creek except that it was a tributary of the Mataura on the eastern side somewhere below the Maraerua.

Tutekawa: One of Beattie’s informants told him this was the name of the first creek to enter the Mataura below Te Au Nui and was called Whisky Creek by Pakeha. Named after the famous Tutekawa of Kai Tahu.

Tutemakohu: Makohu is the short version of the name of Hasties Creek – the full version is Te Wairua o Te Makohu. The hill above is Tutemakohu after the famous Tutemakohu and Beattie notes this should not be confused with the person the creek is named after. Ashwell gives Tu Te Ma Kohu as the name for East Dome.

Uretura: Fortrose, at the mouth of the Mataura river.

Upokopapii: Name of gully once known to Pakeha as Sam’s Grief. The gully before the Maraerua Stream.

Waiarikiki: From Roberts (p23), a tributary of the Mimihau though on p24 he desribes it as having a mouth on the Mataura? He states that it is known as the Wakiki but should be Waiarikiki.

Waihana: Settlement on the Mimihau.

Waihoa: The Lowburn stream. See Otu/Ota.

Waihoe: Ashwell believes this may be the same as Waioihi or Whiskey Creek – see below.

Waikaia/Whakaea/Wakaia: Largest tributary to the Mataura river. Beattie and Roberts state the correct name is Whakaea and Ashwell agrees. Roberts points out that a tourist guide to Western Otago in 1913, gives the correct name as Wai-o-whaka-ea. It is commonly known as Waikaia or Wakaia. Thomson on a 1857 map of his interiour reconnaissance shows a small hill east of the Waikaia, between the Okapua and Orama (probably today, Otama) tributaries, also named as Waikaia. Is this the same as a 1345 foot hill Roberts describes as east of the Pyramid? Ashwell give Wa Kaia as the name of another prominent hill east of the Pyramid.

Waikaka: Waikaka river - Originally Waikakahi, presumably from there being abundant kakahi or freshwater mussels in the river. Also, Ashwell gives Waikaka as a modern short form of Waikakahi. Ashwell also gives Waikaka as the name of the place now called McNab.

Waikakariki: In the Ashwell name list he comments simply that it is at Charlton in one place and gives Charlton Creek at another. Since Beattie, as well as Ashwell, also gives Manuka for Charlton Creek perhaps Charlton is correct for Waikakariki.

Waikana/ Waikanakana: Stream that runs or ran into the Mataura just below Te Au Nui or the Mataura Falls. The shortened version of the name is most commonly used but Waikanakana is the fullname. Beattie noted in 1930 that a fish hatchery was on the stream – is it still?

Waikoikoi: Ashwell simply has, village of.

Waimahaka: Tributary of the Titiroa which flows into the Mataura about five miles north of Fortrose. W H S Roberts notes thaton many early maps it is referred to as Waimak and that some say it should be Wamahake.

Waimea/Waimeha: These are the two spelling of the name for the plains drained by the stream or small river that has the two same variations in spelling, Waimea or Waimeha. Beattie sometimes uses Waimea and sometimes Waimeha. He described most of his old Māori informants as saying the name with the h but acknowledged it is also often said without the ‘h’ by many Māori. Roberts gives Waimeha as the correct spelling, noting that “some say” Waimea is from Mehameha.

In the map from Thomsons inland reconaisance of 1856, the small mound south west of the Waimea and presumably Mandeville, is clearly marked and named Waimea while another mound to the east of the Waikaia is called Waikaia.

Harold Ashwell describes the Waimea plains as representing the two sails of the Takitimu lying flat while Syd Cormack records the name of the Waimea plains as Nga Ra o Takitimu or the sails of the Takitimu.

Waimaunu: Irthing River.

Waimumu: The Waimumu joins or joined the Mataura just below the bridge and near the rocks called Oraukiwa, in 1930. In Ashwell, the stream and the east end of the Hokonui Hills.

Waioihi: Whiskey Creek. The present day Whisky creek appears to be an upper tributary of the Waimumu stream only and is the stream Beattie describes as Waioihi in 1944. But in

1930 he recorded being given the name the name Tutekawa as the first creek below the falls, on the western side, called by Pakeha, Whisky Creek, in, or close to 1930. Mantell recorded crossing the Waioi in 1853, on the western bank of the Mataura close to the crossing place near Tuturau. This is possibly the same creek as Tutekawa. Why these particular names changed in this way is impossible to say at the moment. Possibly the hi on the end of Waioihi indeed indicates an identification of a fishery such as characterised the Mataura falls area.

Waipakura: Ashwell gives either the Acton or Cromel stream near Mossburn.

Waiparu: Ashwell gives as 8 miles north of Riversdale on the north side of the Mataura River.

Waipounemu/Waipounamu: Ashwell gives it as 4 miles north of Riversdale. Roberts gives Waipounamu as the name chosen for a school not far from Riversdale.

Wairikiriki: A school district according to Roberst, near Waihana.

Wairuamakohu: The tributary creek of the Mataura on the eastern bank after Taohuata. The full name is Te Wairua o Te Makohu and as noted before, this Makohu should not be confused with the famous Tutemakohu of Otaupiri while Tutemakohu is the name of a hill between Wairuamakohu and the creek Waikana.

Waitaka: see Oteramika.

Waitaramea: Oswald Stream and the site of an important battle. Though the Kati Mamoe force under Tu Te Ma Kohu lost, the invading Kai Tahu force retreated after the death of Kaweriri.

Whakaoma/Whakaomo: Both Ashwell and Roberts have Ship Cone, Hokonui Hills. Roberts has two spellings, Whakaomo and Wakaoma (from Stoke’s Chart) while Ashwell has Whakaoma and Whaka Oma.

Whakaoroko: Ashwell gives a hill just north of Ship Cone, Hokonui Hills.

Wharekorokio: See under Nohoaka.

Whareoka: A tributary of the Manuka or Charlton from the south. Beattie noted that an informant thought it may have been a shortened version of Wharekoka meaning house of dried flax and he also noted good bulrushes grew along this tributary “in the old days.”