Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 10, October 1968
Years ago, a friend of ours, the late Mr. Joseph Cooper a shift-boss in the Waihi mine, told us that the Maoris, believed that the Waihi Plains was once a lake, named Waihi, which, they said, meant "Still Water". The Maoris said that an earthquake split the Karangahake Gorge hill in two, and the water from the lake drained out through Waikino and the split to the Waihou River. Mr. Cooper said that the shape of the plains made this likely. If one notices the similarity of the sides of the gorge and the huge rocks in the lower part of the river this is quite believable. An airman grandson of mine said that when he flew over the plains this story seemed convincing.
MRS. E.G. LOCKINCTON, KATIKATI.