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SIDE STORY Hinemoa and Tutanekai |
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Hinemoa lived on the western shore of Lake Rotorua and Tutanekai lived on Mokoia Island, in the middle of the lake. Both were of high birth in their respective hapu, or sub-tribes, but Hinemoa's family opposed the two marrying. At night, the sound of Tutanekai's flute would carry across the water to Hinemoa. One night, Hinemoa so longed for Tutanekai that she tied some calabash gourds around herself and swam to Mokoia Island, a distance of about two kilometres.
Once there, she hid in a hot pool. Eventually a man came to fetch water from a cold spring beside the hot pool. In a deep man's voice, Hinemoa demanded who it was. The man replied he was Tiki, Tutanekai's slave, come to fetch water. Hinemoa asked the man for a drink, but then promptly smashed the water gourd. When Tiki returned with another gourd, Hinemoa did the same again, until in anger, Tutanekai himself came to the pool. To his joy and amazement, Hinemoa identified herself. When Tutanekai's slave went to wake him the next morning, he reported someone else sleeping in Tutanekai's bed. The two lovers emerged, and after Hinemoa's efforts to reach Tutanekai were revealed, their union was celebrated. |
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