The ancient fortress site at Hakikino, Waimārama has revealed many secrets. Middens (ancient rubbish tips) are to be found all over the site and they give us an insight as to the seafood that was gathered and eaten by our people.
Pipi and pāua were obviously a favourite also mussels and pupu are evident as well.
I note that amidst all of the thousands of shells there are no large shells. Shell sizes are fairly uniform and range from mid size to small. I have read that the flax baskets used to gather pipi had a large open weave that would allow the very small pipi to drop back in to the sea but this does not account for the absence of large shells.
I am sure that this was a conservation practice, enshrined in mythology and still adhered to by some of our people today. The largest of any species of seafood was returned to the sea.
The thinking behind this is that the largest are the breeders and by returning them to the sea you ensure that they can continue to do just that. I can remember going to gather pāua with my father and he rarely took large pāua preferring instead the smaller sweeter sizes.
Unfortunately, this philosophy runs afoul of current conservation thinking and present laws enforce their view. We can only take the largest of most shellfish species; this is a specific measurement that limits us severely.
In the case of pipi there are no such laws however I note that even during my lifetime, these shellfish have become less abundant and difficult to find.
Conservation and preservation is of concern to all and only time will tell which philosophy will prevail.
I recall a story told to me by my Uncle Wi Gillies some 45years ago, circa1965.
Tāwhaowhao
Tāwhaowhao may not be one of the biggest or even one of the greatest of the sea monsters that inhabit the province of Tangaroa the sea god; in fact he might even be the smallest.
The intertidal zone is Tāwhaowhao’s domain; where the large waves lose their momentum in the rock pools or run out on to the sandy beaches and disappear.
Tāwhaowhao may be seen in the shifting seaweed or skipping laterally along the foreshore where the wavelets fade away. He has no great interest in the intrusions of man; he generally avoids them but occasionally their paths cross.
The people regard Tāwhaowhao with a great deal of respect. He does not have the terrifying reputation generally attributed to other such monsters but he is fearsome enough when required.
When the men are away in the forest or out at sea, the women will collect the children; take up their flax baskets and set off to the seashore to gather pipi.
After the necessary prayers to the sea god Tangaroa, the women will then look to see if Tāwhaowhao is nearby. It is not fear that motivates them it is the knowledge that Tāwhaowhao is particularly fond of pipi and if ‘Tāwhaowhao is there then so are the pipi’.
At all times they maintain a respectful distance making sure that the largest pipi gathered are returned to the sea; to Tāwhaowhao . This is especially pleasing to Tāwhaowhao and although he might feed on some, the majority are returned to the sand to breed again.
Tāwhaowhao fulfils a significant purpose in caring for the many intertidal species that live here in this sea garden. If the people are greedy or wasteful or if they choose to make a meal of their harvest on the shore and fouling this garden; he will intervene.
He can call upon the demigods Tangaroa, Tawhirimātea to whip up the winds and raise the waves or shift the sands to create deep holes or sand bars. Tāwhaowhao can herd the pāua or the pipi or the kina and move them further out to sea or further along the coast.
In fact there are a myriad of harmful and dangerous things in the oceans of Tangaroa that are at the disposal of Tāwhaowhao
For all that; Tāwhaowhao can be benign, sometimes when the women are so preoccupied with gathering pipi and gossiping, the children and babies can quickly move into deeper water and danger. It is not unknown for Tāwhaowhao to administer a sharp nip to their ankles causing them to flee the water.
One aspect of Tāwhaowhao that needs to be mentioned here is his ability to survive outside of his marine environment.
Tāwhaowhao should not be considered frivolous but he is easily distracted and delights in feeding upon the small herrings and driving them in to the shallows. Sometimes he is so distracted that he is cast upon the sand as the tide withdraws. He must then wait until the tide returns.
To ensure that he is safe during this time ashore, Tāwhaowhao can inflate his body and cause his flesh to decay and become putrid. Very soon the flies are attracted by the stench and swarm all over him.
If the people come across what looks like a log with a rank odour and covered in flies lying in the sand they know immediately that it is Tāwhaowhao and give it a wide berth. It is also considered a sign that ‘today might not be a good time to gather food from the sea”
For all that Tāwhaowhao represents, the smallest monster is treated with great respect and a modicum of affection.
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