Andrew Biggs
Moderator
Hinemoa was the beautiful high born daughter of two great rangatira. She was set apart from the rest of the tribe because she was tapu and therefore could not be touched. Her beauty was known throughout the region and over the years there were many offers of marriage. All of them refused.
Tutanekai was the handsome and brave illegitimate son of a great chief and lived on Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua. Although accepted and loved by his tribe he was still considered to be inferior and there was a great animosity between himself and his half brothers.
As the young men of the tribes and Tutanekai’s half brothers competed in vain for Hinemoa’s attention, little did they realise that Tutanekai had already secretly stolen her heart. But it was forbidden because she was high born and he was illegitimate.
At night Tutanekai would sit on his island and play his flute and in the still night air the sound would drift across the lake and lift Hinemoa’s heart as she listened to the beautiful tunes. One night, unable to be separated any longer from her lover she walked down to the beach and stripped off her clothing and entered the water at the lakes edge.
Guided by the gentle tunes in the still night air Hinemoa started swimming toward the island but the distance was great and there were hidden dangers. Part way through the journey as she was getting tired a great water monster known as a Taniwha reared up in the water to attack her. When Hinemoa explained the reason for her swimming through his domain, the Taniwha was so moved that he helped her reach the island.
Hinemoa moved up the beach and found a warm pool to hide in and disguise her nakedness. At this time Tutanekai sent a slave to gather water from the pool unaware that Hinemoa was waiting for him there. The slave threw the gourd into the water and Hinemoa quickly grabbed it and smashed it against the rocks.
The slave ran back to his master fearing that there was a monster in the pool. Tutanekai quickly reached for his mere (war club) and gathered his cloak around him and set off to kill the monster. As he ran toward the pool Hinemoa stood up in all her nakedness and Tutaenkai realised just how beautiful she really was. Placing his cloak around her he led her to his house and through the night they made love enjoying each others closeness.
In the morning as the sun broke above the horizon, dozens of war canoes could be seen heading toward the island. Hinemoa’s father was in the lead canoe and was outraged at what his daughter had done and he fully intended to destroy Tutanekai’s tribe for the insult that his people felt.
When his canoe landed he ran toward Hinemoa and Tutanekai with his mere raised to strike a killing blow. But as he got closer he saw that they stood fast and proud. He also saw that the love they shared between them could not be broken as it was a love that came from the soul.
And so what started as a war party to destroy ended up as a celebration of love. As the two tribes met they embraced one another and cheered the lovers Hinemoa and Tutanekai.
As the years went by Hinemoa and Tutanekai had many children and distinguished descendants and their love for one another grew even deeper and they both lived long and fruitful lives.
Sometimes to this day, on a still and quiet night at the edges of Lake Rotorua, if you listen very carefully you can still hear the gentle music of Tutanekai’s flute as he guides Hinemoa to his bedside.
Cheers
Andrew
The photo in the background is Mokoia Island where Tutanekai played his flute and Hinemoa swam out to.
Tutanekai was the handsome and brave illegitimate son of a great chief and lived on Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua. Although accepted and loved by his tribe he was still considered to be inferior and there was a great animosity between himself and his half brothers.
As the young men of the tribes and Tutanekai’s half brothers competed in vain for Hinemoa’s attention, little did they realise that Tutanekai had already secretly stolen her heart. But it was forbidden because she was high born and he was illegitimate.
At night Tutanekai would sit on his island and play his flute and in the still night air the sound would drift across the lake and lift Hinemoa’s heart as she listened to the beautiful tunes. One night, unable to be separated any longer from her lover she walked down to the beach and stripped off her clothing and entered the water at the lakes edge.
Guided by the gentle tunes in the still night air Hinemoa started swimming toward the island but the distance was great and there were hidden dangers. Part way through the journey as she was getting tired a great water monster known as a Taniwha reared up in the water to attack her. When Hinemoa explained the reason for her swimming through his domain, the Taniwha was so moved that he helped her reach the island.
Hinemoa moved up the beach and found a warm pool to hide in and disguise her nakedness. At this time Tutanekai sent a slave to gather water from the pool unaware that Hinemoa was waiting for him there. The slave threw the gourd into the water and Hinemoa quickly grabbed it and smashed it against the rocks.
The slave ran back to his master fearing that there was a monster in the pool. Tutanekai quickly reached for his mere (war club) and gathered his cloak around him and set off to kill the monster. As he ran toward the pool Hinemoa stood up in all her nakedness and Tutaenkai realised just how beautiful she really was. Placing his cloak around her he led her to his house and through the night they made love enjoying each others closeness.
In the morning as the sun broke above the horizon, dozens of war canoes could be seen heading toward the island. Hinemoa’s father was in the lead canoe and was outraged at what his daughter had done and he fully intended to destroy Tutanekai’s tribe for the insult that his people felt.
When his canoe landed he ran toward Hinemoa and Tutanekai with his mere raised to strike a killing blow. But as he got closer he saw that they stood fast and proud. He also saw that the love they shared between them could not be broken as it was a love that came from the soul.
And so what started as a war party to destroy ended up as a celebration of love. As the two tribes met they embraced one another and cheered the lovers Hinemoa and Tutanekai.
As the years went by Hinemoa and Tutanekai had many children and distinguished descendants and their love for one another grew even deeper and they both lived long and fruitful lives.
Sometimes to this day, on a still and quiet night at the edges of Lake Rotorua, if you listen very carefully you can still hear the gentle music of Tutanekai’s flute as he guides Hinemoa to his bedside.
Cheers
Andrew
The photo in the background is Mokoia Island where Tutanekai played his flute and Hinemoa swam out to.
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