So how real were the 'fairy folk'? How were they banished? History and mythology merge throughout the world to hide 'the truth'. Are the 'Fairy Folk' previously described a 'Celtic People' who were indigenious to New Zealand prior to the arrival of the Maori. The description of them is very specific - 'The people were very numerous; there were a thousand or perhaps more on Ngongotaha'; 'The colour of most of them was kiri puwhero (reddish skins), and their hair had the red or golden tinge'; 'Some had black eyes, some blue like fair-skinned Europeans'; ;They were about the same height as ourselves'; 'In disposition they were peaceful; they were not a war-loving, angry people; 'Their food consisted of the products of the forest, and they also came down to this Lake Rotorua to catch inanga (whitebait).'
Does that description befit gods? Or a race with supernatural powers? No ... the descriptions are that of an indigenious race living at one time in harmony with the early Maori. But the question remains ... how were the Ngati-Rua banished? By warfare? By tribal raids of Maori warriors claiming the land for themselves? Obviously these iwi atua in truth were flesh and blood just like the early Maori.
Now, the only question which remains is ... were these Ngati-Rua the same Fairy people as those on Pirongia Mountain? It sounds very much like they were not. The race of Faerie which inhabited Pirongia produced Albino hybrids ... if it was the same tribe as on Ngongotaha then surely the resultant offspring would have similar appearance to the Ngati-Rua - appearing European with red or golden hair and reddish skin? Classic Albino is pale skin and red eyes!
No ... I feel strongly that the race of Faerie on Pirongia is Alien in origin! The myth of the Fairy People near to Rotorua relates to history being merged into myth to hide historic events.
