Andrew Smith wrote:
>My revised dictionary of Maori says under pronunciation "_wh_ is usually
>pronounced like _f_. In some districts it is spoken like an _h_ (e.g.
>in Hokianga) and in others like a _w_ (e.g. in Taranaki), in others
>again like _wh_ in _when_.
>
>I once saw a reference that said it was a bilabial fricative originally.
>I couldn't tell you where I read that now, dammit. /f/ has become
>standard for good Maori.>
Very interesting. So Proto-PN *f > Maori /wh/ > Maori /f/. Sound changes
are supposed to be irreversible!! (Though in this case it's just phonetic,
not phonemic.)