Hawaiki-nui

From The Lore of the Whare-Wananga

pp. 102

Te Ku-watawata, Te Akaaka-matua and others were appointed to the Taheke-roa there to watch the family of Rangi and Papa and their grandchildren who descend to Rarohenga, and Te Muri-wai-hou. They were stationed at Pou-tere-rangi (the site of the watch house of hades), the name of the house being Te Rake-pohutu-kawa—that is its minor name, but the principal name is Hawaiki-nui.

There were four doors to this house, each directed to the cardinal points. It is so, it is said, because if anyone dies in the south the spirit enters by the southern door, and so on for each direction.

On entering, those spirits who have an affection for Rangi-nui (the sky father), or to the conjoint Heavens, go forth by the eastern door, and ascend by the Ara-tiatia (way of steps) to the conjoint Heavens.

Those spirits who show love to their mother earth proceed to the bounds of Hine-moana (lady ocean) and there remain. Those that go to the summits of the mountains remain there, whilst those who show love to Whiro are separated off to Te Muri-wai-hou and Rarohenga that is, to the Reinga ['jumping off place' of which there is one in each home of the Polynesians].

It is the bad and wicked spirits that are separated off to the Reinga (it is the trecherous and murders who go to Whiro), the good ones are those who go by the Ara-tiatia to the conjoint Heavens.

Now, before ailing mankind expires, as they lie on their death-beds the fat of the body, the brains of the head, the [marrow] of the bones, all gather at the heart, and there await dissolution; the water of the body, of the kidneys, of the lungs dries up. At this point the spirit (wairua) goes away to visit its relatives; and after that proceeds to Hawaiki (Physiologists may object to this theory; but it is that of the old-time Māori, who, in his experience of death seems to have been acquainted with the premonition conveyed to distant relatives, of which we have heard of so many instances).

Now, if Te Ku-watawata (guardian of the entrance to Hades) allows the spirit to proceed to the place assigned to it, the dying body will die right out. If he does not consent, the spirit is sent back to its body, and it will live again in this world until it has fulfilled the remainder of its time, and then it finally dies in reality.

That is the meaning of Hawaiki when the name is mentioned; it is the place meant when it is said man goes to the Pō (everlasting night)—that is Hawaiki [i.e. when it is mentioned in connection with death; for there are plenty of other places in the Polynesian world bearing that name.]