te poi

Farming locality on the western foot of the Kaimai Ranges, 10km south-east of Matamata.

Meaning of place name
A contraction of Te Poipoitangi; te: the; poipoi: a ball of flax stuffed with rapou down, used in dances; tangi: to lament. Mahinarangi, wife of the chief Turongo, gave birth to their son before she could rejoin her husband on Tainui soil. At this place she rocked her son to and fro in her arms in a ceremony known as te poipoitangi, which ensures that the child will not fret to return to its birthplace.

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