History

Te Maori

Long before the first Europeans discovered the area near the Lewis Pass, the Maoris were already making full use of it. Maoris from Canterbury crossed the pass and went via Cannibal Gorge, to the Nelson Lakes or down the Maruia River to the West Coast. Also those form the West Coast and Nelson travel led down the Waiau River from the pass to the Canterbury Plains.

The Lewis Pass was popular not only because of its low altitude but also because of its hot springs. Maoris, long believers in the soothing ability of mineral waters, could stop at Hanmer Springs and at Maruia Springs during their travels.

It was inevitable with all this activity, that the Maruia Valley. (translated as "The Land of Plenty) came under dispute. This dispute the Ngati-Tumatakokiri tribe of Buller and Nelson and the Ngai-Tahu tribe from Kaiapoi, Kaikoura, and Westland. Both tribes wanted the land for the many kakapo, wekas, kokako, paradise ducks and fat ells that were present here.

One story has it that if any one entered the area a large predatory bird would carry them away to its den in Cannibal Gorge. The more likely story seems to be that the Ngati-Tumatakokiri tribe trapped a chief Pakeke and his party from the Ngai-Tahu tribe and killed its members in the Cannibal Gorge. They celebrated this with a feast, at the expense of the Ngai-Tahu tribe. Hence the name, Cannibal Gorge.