The etymology of pākehā is unknown, although the most likely sources are the words pākehakeha or pakepakehā, which refer to an oral tale of a "mythical, human like being, with fair skin and hair who possessed canoes made of reeds which changed magically into sailing vessels" [REF].
There have been several dubious interpretations given to the word pākehā by people aiming to discredit it as a term .