IJ
- Feb 11, 2016

22: The Stone Bird

The Korotangi - the Sacred Bird of Tainui, is yet another interesting and very odd non-Maori looking artifact. We previously discussed another on 3rd February. This one however, is accepted as a relic of Tainui people even though its manufacture, design, it's style and especially (they say they brought it with them) since the stone it's made from, says otherwise. It seems that if Maori say something is something no one is allowed to argue. It could be true, but who would dare question them? It is a fair question because they cannot justify any of the four following things - Manufacture, style, design or origin of stone. I am open to correction if someone can supply that information. Below is information gleaned on this outstanding artefact.

The origins of the Korotangi remain a mystery, although it is now almost 100 years since it was found by a Maori imbedded in the roots of an upturned manuka tree, between Aotea harbour and Raglan. All that is definitely known is that it was discovered in 1878, that it weighs 2097 grams and is 26cm long, and is finely carved from a dark green non-specific serpentine, and appears to be carved with metal tools. It depicts a bird which seems to be a fusion of a petrel, a duck and a dove or pigeon.

Now when we say non-specifc - that is the official term. The fact is this particular type of serpentine is only found in China and Indonesia.

The Korotangi bird at first glance resembled a prion or whalebird, until it was noted that instead of having a united nasal tube, the Korotangi had lateral nostrils at the base of the beak, rather like a ducks. No-one knew how long it had been under the tree, but one thing was clear, it bore no resemblance to any known carving. It was first acquired by Albert Walker, who left it for a short time with Major Drummond Hay of Cambridge, and it was during it's stay in Major Drummonds home that the first clue came to Korotangi's identity.

An old chieftainess, seeing the stone bird, immediately bowed before it and began to sing a lament to the Korotangi. The news of the find soon spread amongst the Maori and all who saw it, claimed it was the sacred talisman, Korotangi, brought to NZ in the Tainui waka.

The korotangi was said to have been stored at "Te Ahurei", the wananga or school of learning, along with other precious stone emblems, established shortly after the Tainui waka arrived in Kawhia harbour. Later the korotangi and these other emblems were lost, causing a civil war amongst the Tainui people. After the korotangi had been identified, it was bought by Major John Wilson as a present for his wife and many Maori chiefs visited the Wilson house to view the famous stone bird, including: Tawhiao, King Potatau 11 and Rewi Maniapoto, who asked if he could have the korotangi in his bedroom. His wish was granted and it is said, he rose several times in the night to tangi over it.

One of the visiting Maori chiefs, Te Ngakau of the Ngati Mahuta, commented that 'This is not a Maori bird, look at the carved feathers, it comes from a distance...a foreign land or over the sea'. He considered the korotangi to be so tapu that he pleaded with Mrs Wilson to throw it into the Waikato river lest she suffer makutu, or bewitchment. But the korotangi remained in the Wilson family. A son Jack later had it housed in the Bank of New Zealand and upon his death, his widow placed it on loan to the Dominion Museum with the provision that it always be kept in the light and never shut away in the dark.

The legend of the korotangi is that it came in the Tainui waka as one of the heirlooms which had been blessed by the high priests in Hawaiiki and which in the new country, would ensure good hunting for the tribe. It was said that the Kawhia and Waikato tribes, who descended from Tainui stock, took the korotangi into battle with them, setting it up on a hill and consulting it as an oracle.

The "korotangi" can mean "to roar and rush as the sound of water" in either Maori, Hawaiian or Samoan has been used to support the legend that it was bought on the Tainui waka from afar. Sacred talismans such as the korotangi were said to have been brought to NZ by other famous canoes. The canoe Mataatua, which landed at Whakatane, brought the taukata, and the Arawa canoe brought the matuatonga, a little stone kumara god.

What suggests that the stone bird, that was found near Aotea, was the korotangi brought on the Tainui waka, were the numerous laments throughout the country by the Maori people. It's name essentially means 'father of mourning', but keep in mind it has only been called that since it was found. There have been several versions of how the korotangi came about, but regardless of the stories, the Tainui people believe wholeheartedly that the korotangi which was housed in the Dominion museum, was their stone bird which came to New Zealand in their waka. In 1995 the korotangi was returned to the Tainui people as part of the government settlement of their claims under the treaty of Waitangi.

It has also made other appearances such as at the Maori Queens tangi - you can see it on the casket. (Incidently, the Maori Kings son is called Korotangi).

The Korotangi is unlike any other piece of Maori art and it was probably carved with metal tools unknown to the Maori and its history may never be known.

Above we said that it was found under an upturned manuka tree. Now that alone is an interesting point because manuka only lasts 60 years but kanuka can last 300-400 years. If it was manuka it will be a fake. If that was pointed out Tainui may say that the maori that found it meant kanuka. I am 100% sure that in 1878 a Maori would still have enough ability to know the difference! So...it could be one of the cleverest hoaxes perpetrated in New Zealand, and it could equally be a gift of early European to the Maori. Or it may be, as some have claimed, one of the oldest surviving works of early man, carried reverently across the ocean by the ancestors of the Maori from some far distant homeland in Asia - somewhere where dark green serpentine exists. One thing is for sure, this detail of carving could only be done by experts, in places like China where they carved jade for centuries. However, the overall design is more akin to Inuit carved loons or ducks showing them leaning forward, very similar in overall shape. However, the Inuit didn't carve such detail in feathers such as this carving has. So it's not Maori, Pacific Island, or South American and while it could be of Inuit influence - it wasn't carved by them either. That only leaves Asia and someone else can explore that further.

Just to comment on the name meaning above. In Maori, Korotangi means something like 'father of mourning'. The article said it 'can' mean rushing water...but I disagree, as that does not come even close to the Maori words. However, something like father of mourning or lament, would suggest a sacred artefact was brought with them to remember their roots. But Tainui have already dispelled that by suggesting what the name given to it by the old chieftainess actually means. Before its discovery there were already songs sung about it, so it was known about, just not where it was. For it was lost. It had been hidden after being taken by raiders to Rotorua and then recovered and brought back and hidden in a storage pit in which a Manuka tree grew. The key is was that within a 60 year period?

One fact remains. One woman sensed an overpowering spiritual connection to it, yet the Maori that discovered it did not. This artefact was not made in NZ, Tainui say. That is absolutely correct. But if it is it isn't Polynesian, that means that Tainui are accepting an artefact with Asian roots because it does not belong to any Pacific nation's art style or stone type. Similar items have been found in Asia and even as far as Iraq, even Alaska. But that does not mean this bird did, it just means it is similar and not of Pacific design.

It was definately a revered item belonging to the original inhabitants of the Aotea Harbour area at the time the Tainui arrived. If another bird can be produced (there was rumoured to be a carved white bird discovered once) then that would be interesting...but that's another story for another time.

***

Here is the song sung about it: First in Maori, and then a translation by the late C. O. Davis, the well-known native scholar:—

“Kaore te aroha Ki taku nei manu, Titoko tonu ake, I te ahiahi Ka tomo ki te whare, Taku ate noa ai. He rangi au ka tatari, Apopo (akuanei) Awhea ano te hiki mai ai? Kei hea Korotangi Ka ngaro nei? Tena ka riro kei te katokato, I te rau powhata. Nga whakataine Tu mai ko te Po ko te Ao, Ka oho au, tirohia Iho e hine ma; Nga parera e tere ake na; Ehara anake He parera Maori Waiho me titiro Ki te huruhuru, Whakairoiro mai, No tawhiti, e waiho Ana koe hei tiaki-hanga, Hei korero taua Ki tona taumata. I puea koe, I te huahua, Koewaewa wai Ki Rotorua E ai te ui ake Ki a Kawatepuarangi.”

“Keen is the sorrow, O my bird, for thee! And, when the evening closes in, I look around in vain for thee, then turn into my dwelling. Oh! the pang of heart I feel when there! I wait the live-long day in restlessness; I wait another day, and morrow comes! When, when wilt thou return to me? Where is Korotangi absent? Ah! how long he has gone to feast on leaves of kale!—gone, gone to, his amusements. I wake when time divides in twain the day and night. My daughters, look ye on the ducks down in the distance floating. Ah! these are not like him; that is the common bird. Let us gaze upon the feathers carved in lands remote. Ah! thou wert rudely thrust from fish preserved in unrich fluid taken from Rotorua's lake. Thou wert the guardian of our treasures, and the theme of many conversations on many heights of numerous village homes. Now what remains? We'll ask for thee of Kawatepuarangi.”

Kawatepuarangi was an ancestor of the Ngatipikiao Tribe—most likely a notable tohunga or priest.

Te Ngakau has written, in the song, “Ehara tena he manu Maori waiho, me titiro ki te huruhuru whakairoiro mai, no tawhiti; “which we translate, “This not a Maori bird. Consider—look at the carved feathers thereof. It (evidently) comes from a distance—a foreign country, or over the sea.”