History provides some quirky stories and the tale of how an early cooking utensil got its name could be one of them.
Small, with a handle each side and a rounded bottom, such pots were ideal for cooking over an open fire. These three-legged cooking pots were very much coveted by early Maori, who had no metal cooking utensils at all. The first ships to trade in New Zealand waters disposed of many such cooking pots in exchange for timber, flax or provisions. Sometimes, if supplies of pots were limited the Maori overstayed his welcome on the ship because he refused to move until he got one. Finally his exasperated hosts gave in, thrust the iron treasure into his hands and said, “There. Now go ashore!” Thus the cooking pots came to be known as “Go-ashores”. This battered and ancient specimen, minus lid, handle and two of its legs, was dug up in a Russell garden.
