Te Ara Wairua - The Spirits Pathway

---

As mentioned in my previous entry the northern most parts of Nz play an important role in Maori Mythology. They believe that this is the place where a person’s spirit comes after death and departs to their enternal home of Hawaiki.

The spirit must first travel up 90mile beach and across the rugged line of Cape Maria Van Diemen to Te Reinga - the rocky point on which the lightuse is situated.

Clinging to this rock is an ancient Kahika tree name Te Aroha and unlike any other tree of its kind, it has never been seen to flower. This area is known as Te Rerenga Wairua - Leaping Place of Spirits - as mythology states that the spirit must climb down steps formed by the roots of Te Aroha into the ocean. They would swim to the Three Kings Islands (named after the Wise Men in the Christmas story) climb up to the highest pount and bid their last farewell before returning to the land of their ancestors.

---