Driving to and from Piopio we pass through a village called Kihikihi. It's located between Te Awamutu and Otorohonga on the way from Hamilton to Waitomo Caves (and beyond to Piopio and New Plymouth). Kihikihi is a small town with a few shops. Near a pretty local church there's a small reserve with a big rock atop which perches a statue of a rather goggle-eyed, winged bug.
For a long time I had no idea what the deal was with the bug on the rock, but wasn't curious enough to stop enroute to find out. Until one day when we stopped to buy corn from a grower selling from his truck in the reserve. We noticed a plaque on the rock explaining what it was all about and decided finally to get to the bottom of it.
Turns out "Kihikihi" means "cicada" in Te Reo Maori, and the statue is a cicada. The plaque explains that Kihikihi was a special delicacy or "kai" served to a tribe visiting the area, also that their song heralds summer.
So yet another mystery solved. Sometimes intellectual curiousity doesn't always get the better of me, but I'm glad when it actually does since I always learn something!
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