The mangaroa valley : a study of a rural - urban fringe

Abstract

There has been, and still exists, uncertainty over the correct spelling of the word "Mangaroa". Up to about 1920 the most frequent spelling was "Mungaroa", while since that time "Mangaroa" Mungaroa could be interpreted to mean "a tall or long Nikau palm" (Munga =Nikau : roa = long) while Mangaroa probably means "a long branch of a river" (manga = a branch : roa = long ). Definitions supplied by the Dept. of Maori Affairs, Wellington. has become prevalent. Dollimore (1962) writes "Mangaroa, sometimes erroneously called Mungaroa........." but gives no supporting evidence. Possibly, in the early days of exploration, surveying and settlement, the Maori "Manga" was Anglicized incorrectly, the first vowel "a" being sounded as a "u" (as in "but" not as in "pure") and thus written accordingly. A further complication arises as the area immediately adjacent to the Valley to the north-west was also known for a time as Mungaroa. Needless to say, confusion existed until in the 1920's the name "Te Marua" began to replace the word "Mungaroa" for the area outside the present Mangaroa Valley (e.g. in 1923 the Wellington Education Board changed Mungaroa School's name to Te Marua to distinguish between it and the Mangaroa School. The Post Office likewise changed its name). For the purpose of this study "Mangaroa" will always be used, while the words "Mungaroa (Te Marua)" will be used when the adjoining area is referred to.