Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

Note by C. L. Thomas, in Wilson 1939.:

"This isolated and historic hill, which was in the early days washed on three sides by the waters of the Inner Harbour, was in 1872 removed during railway construction to provide spoil to fill in the hollow in Dickens and Munroe Streets. .... The Māori knew this hill as Puke Moki Moki - the hill where the Moki Moki grew, which was much prized by the tribes for miles around. This hill was especially reserved when the Ahuriri Block was sold by Hapuku in 1851, because he wanted the Moki Moki, "Doodia Fragrans," the sweet-scented small fern, very difficult for the natives to find in any part of Hawke"s Bay, except on Puke Moki Moki. The Māori maidens for many generations made journeys from distant parts of the district to collect this fragrant fern."