The Story of The Cloak of Tia
The Great Cloak of Tia
Ngāti Tūwharetoa traces its origins from the early explorers Ngatoroirangi and Tia. They both came to Aotearoa aboard the Te Arawa canoe. The canoe landed at two places: The river of the God and Maketū. It is from there that Tia began his journey to the belly of the great fish of Māui in the Central North Island.
There are many stories associated with the arrival of Tia in this district - from Aratiatia and Atiamuri, to the many significant sites that Tia visited around the lake. Handed down from Grandfather to Grandchild each story differs whether they are from sub-tribes or from the district’s communities. Each however accords respect to the precious treasures Lake Taupō and the surrounding landscapes. One of these stories refers to a name now commonly applied to our great lake – Lake Taupō.
Tia travelled south along the eastern shores near Hātepe and noticed a formation of rock that drew his attention. In looking closely he thought it resembled the heavy cloak or ‘taupo’ draped over his shoulders. Such was the likeness that he hung it on a nearby post and in doing so applied the name
‘The Great cloak of Tia.’
Te Taupo nui ä Tia
Ko Ngäti Tüwharetoa tëtehi o ngä iwi whakaheke ä Ngätoroirangi räua ko Tia. Ko räua tahi i
tae ki Aotearoa nei ki runga i te waka o Te Arawa. I tau te waka ki ngä waahi e rua: ki Te Awa
o te Atua me Maketü. I reira ka tïmata ä Tia i tana haerenga ki Te puku o te ika ä Mäui.
He maha ngä körero e hängai ana ki te haerenga mai o Tia ki tëneki rohe, arä, ki Aratiatia, ki
Atiamuri, ä, ki ngä waahi tapu kei ngä päpäringa o te moana. Ko ëneki ngä tümomo körero
e tuku iho e te koroua ki töna mokopuna. Hei ahakoa he rerekëhanga tö te iwi ki te häpori, e
whakanuitia e ngä körero katoa i ngä tino taonga me ngä whenua katoa o tëneki rohe. Ko tëtehi o aua
körero e pä ana ki te ingoa ka rongohia
īnaianei mo Taupö moana.
I haere ä Tia ki te tonga o te moana. Ki te taha räwhiti i tae atu e ia ki tëtehi waahi tata ki
Hätepe. I aro ake e ia ki ngä köhatu e ähua rite ki te taupo ki runga i äna pokohiwi. Ka
waihotia te käkahu ki runga pou. Nä reira ka rauikatia te ingoa ‘Te Taupo nui ä Tia.’