Koriniti (Corinth)
I’d stood in front of the large road map at the turn-off into the Whanganui River Road (a tall wooden weathered one, showing towns and activities of interest along I’d followed the blue ribbon that was the awa (river) with my eyes. It had a Maori totem feel about it this road sign. Its single red, white and black koru border below with driving instructions because of the road’s narrowness.
Koriniti
“Koriniti is about 40km from Whanganui city, The Iwi (tribe) of the people from Koriniti is Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi and they are a sub-tribe (hapu) known as Ngati Pamoana. Legend has it that “Kupe a polynesian navigator from Hawaiki discovered Aotearoa or New Zealand (Land of the Long White Cloud).
When he returned to Hawaiki he told the people about the land he had discovered. He then gave directions and the course for the new land. After a careful study of the directions, many canoes left the islands for Aotearoa. The main migration was undertaken by a fleet of seven canoes the most well known of these were the Arawa, Aotea, Kurahaupo, Mataatua, Takitimu, Tainui and Tokomaru.
“Turi, captain of the Aotea was the son of Ronga-tea-tai-marama and of Hina-rau-renga, born at Mahaena on the north-east coast of Tahiti. He left Tahiti with his people, the Ngati-Rongotea, and sailed to Raiatea Island in the Society (Tahiti) Group where he married Rongorongo, the daughter of the local chief Toto.
He became involved in a local conflict against the god Uenuku and decided to flee by sea. Toto had just felled a large tree growing by the banks of the Waiharakeke in Raiatea and half of this tree was hewn into the canoe Aotea. Kupe, who had made the voyage earlier, advised Turi to seek the river mouth near the Patea district.
In about A.D. 1350 the Aotea with 33 passengers from three families set out for Aotearoa. They touched at Raoul Island (Kermadec Group) for repairs and were joined by some of the Kurahaupo’s complement. They finally landed on the Taranaki coast at the mouth of the Patea River where they became the ancestors of the Taranaki, Ngati Ruanui, Nga Rauru, and Wanganui tribes of the West Coast.”
At Patea another son was born to Turi’s wife, he was named Tongapotiki. From this last son, came Pamoana the Chief of Koriniti Marae. He was a seventh generation descendant of Turi and Rongorongo who was born in Patea in the early 1700’s.
When Pamoana moved to the Whanganui River he took for his wife Tauira. She was the youngest grand daughter of Poutama the Chief of the people Ngati Poutama of Hikurangi. They moved to Operiki a short distance away. Pamoana proved to be a great warrior and took part in many battles. Many years later Pamoana was appointed leader of the people. From this appointment a new tribal name was born; Ngati Pamoana of Koriniti.
Modern day Corinth
Corinth overseas is a city state in Greece. In 1858, the old city of Corinth (known as Αρχαία Κόρινθος / Ancient Corinth; SW of the modern city) was totally destroyed by an earthquake. It was rebuilt after a further earthquake in 1928 and again after a great fire in 1933.
The new city of Corinth was founded on the coast of the Gulf of Corinth. It’s the second largest city in the periphery of Peloponnese after Kalamata. Koriniti here in New Zealand couldn’t be further from todays bustling Port/Industrial/Manufacturing city of Corinth overseas. Infact it’s probably closer to the Ancient Corinth. Quiet.
Lately
I’ve been thinking about my life lately, I haven’t in a long while. It’s variable twists and turns. It’s been delicious despite the twists. It’s felt difficult at times, in a purely western-rule-of-thumb-way with its turns. I can count on one hand the number of times I might have gladly swapped it for someone elses. Perhaps you can relate.
They call the book of Corinthians in the christian bible, the Book of Love. It must come close as the one sought out by so many for these words which I’ve paraphrased: “Love is patient and kind. It doesn’t envy or boast, it’s not proud. It’s not rude or self-seeking, it’s not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love doesn’t delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres.” – 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7.
As we drive through Koriniti, I feel immensely grateful. I’m grateful for an absence of war like in the war-torn Middle East, an absence of poverty on a scale of that is found in many African nations. To compare the smallness of the twists and turns in my life to those in ravaged countries elsewhere is futile to me. So I don’t. But I’m grateful for my life. It’s small twists and turns that have meaning for me if no-one else. I’m grateful for it. Everyday.
