Waiuku History
The following story tells you why Waiuku & Taurungaruru are two meaningful names.
Waiuku
The Maori name Waiuku comes from a legend that two prominent brothers Tamakae and Tamakou, vied for the hand of a beautiful high-ranking Waikato chieftainess.
Tamakae was the cultivator, provider and Tamakou the orator.
Tamakou was the first to meet her, but she requested that Tamakae be presented to her. He was working in the kumara gardens and had to be washed in the wai (water) and uku (a particular type of mud) at the stream that flows into the Manukau Harbour just behind the Waiuku Museum, before he was able to meet her. Tamakae won her heart and married her. From then, the place was named Waiuku.
Taurangaruru
You may also be interested to know why we decided to use two very meaningful names "Taurangaruru and "Waiuku" with the owl symbol to promote Taurangaruru Bed & Breakfast in Waiuku.
Taurangaruru is the safe anchorage or the resting place of the morepork/ruru.
Tauranga is a Māori name having the meaning of safe anchorage or resting place.
Ruru the native more-pork (owl) is known for its haunting, melancholic call. This sound gives it the Māori name 'ruru'.
In Māori tradition the more-pork was seen as a watchful guardian. It belonged to the spirit world as it is a bird of the night