21: Patupaiarehe

Patupaiarehe is the name given to the mythical fairy people of the forest. Some say it refers to the pakeha, meaning Europeans, yet pakeha[keha] actually means white spirits of the sea. Imagine what they thought when they saw white people sailing in large white sailed boats across the sea? But I wondered what the word Patupaiarehe really means. No one has ever given an explanation as to what the word means. So I had a look at the make up of the words. It's just surmising but part of the word is of Hawaiian origin.

• Patu is Hawaiian for; to beat, kill, hit, or weapon. Also for a wall.

• Paia is a Hawaiian word meaning clearing in a forest, and strangely…wall.

• Rehe in Hawaiian means expert.

The combined meaning of the words could possibly add up to something like: expert killers in the forest clearing. Patupaiarehe feared sunlight so they would only ever attack in a forest, and a clearing under the trees would also allow them to surround an enemy while in hiding, the greenery being the 'wall'. It's just a suggestion and no one has ever offered anything else.

They were guardians of scared places, enter such a place one and you could be dealt to very severely. If you have seen 'The Dead Lands' that might give you some idea? They had a dislike of fire, steam and cooking. Also sunlight. They were a people of the shadows, dampness and mist. They are regarded as supernatural beings and of three distinct groups ranging from short to 2m tall. Hair colour and complexion was as varied as those in the villages of the Maori.

Fanciful image of the Patupaiarehe from a NZ postage stamp