More Info →19th Nov 1872

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Tuesday November 19th 1872

Present:

His Honour Judge Rogan Presiding
His Honour Judge Smith
Assessor: Hemi Tautau
Clerk to the Court: M Grey
Native Interpreter: T Young

Court opened at 10 a.m.

Major Kemp: (Rangihiwinui) I live at Whanganui and belong to Muaupoko, Rangitane, Ngati Apa, Whanganui and Ngati Kahungunu. I know the land now under investigation.

Hoani Wirikaki: Here submitted the names of witnesses he intended to call for the Ngati Raukawa viz: Ihakara Tukumaru, Matene Te Whiwhi, Rakapa, Wiremu Tamihana, Watahira Turongo, Takerei, Arapera Huru, Henare Herekau, Ruka Pakiha, Ropitini Pakeha

“Te Ngarara”

The Court decided to call this claim which adjourns the claims under investigation so as to have one general investigation.

Wiremu Tamihana Te Neke One of the claimants to this Block agreed to this arrangement.

After some discussion the claim was withdrawn.

Kukutauaki

Keepa: I will now state our ancestral title. My ancestor’s name was Kupe. He was the first man who came to New Zealand. The name of his canoe was Matawhaorua. Kupe’s son was Tamati Kahia, Tamaihera. Tamaraika son of Tamaihera, Maihou, Wharekohu, Te Aranui, Te Auroa, Rangimauheke, Rangieraia, Rangiwhetea, Pukeateau, Koteirau, Kuratuaura, Te Honaki, Tamairangi, Kekerengu, Te Meiha, Hine Te Mihoaterangi. Kupe is the ancestor of all these tribes. We all joined together to come on this land.

There are some who may have claims who are not present and also some of the Whanganui and Ngati Apa who have interest in the land now under investigation. All Kupe’s descendants who are in this part of the country are interested in this land. I will put the question of ancestral title on one side. I shall give my evidence.

In the days of our ancestors there was no dispute between Ngati Raukawa and myself. The common enemy was the Waikatos. Ingakaka was the last battle in which I supported Rauparaha. Ingakaka is situated north of Taranaki in the Ngati Awa district (the place is Kauwaru). Those tribes had been driven down by Waikato and Rauparaha fled in this direction and the battle I have just referred to was the last battle. I assisted Rauparaha. The Whanganuis were defeated on that occasion.

My tribes then returned to their own places. Before we had been home log Ngapuhi came down. They were armed with guns. They came on to this district and crossed to Kapiti. Patuone was their leader. He died lately. A fight took place at Kapiti with Muaupoko. Potau was their chief. They did not succeed in taking the Muaupoko pah. Peace was made. The chief of the pah gave to the war party a green stone mere called Te Manngi. It was given into the hands of Tuwhari a northern chief. This party went on to Pukerua knowing that peace had been made. The people in the pah remained. The people in the pah at Pukerua were Muaupoko. The chief of the war party deceived those in the pah starting a haka. When the people saw them they came out unharmed and mixed among the war party. Te Rauparaha and Ngapuhi attacked and killed them (viz the Muaupokos) which was an act of treachery. 100 people were killed on that occasion.

Then they went on as far as Orongorongo Palliser Bay. They had a battle there with Ngati Kahungunu (that is against one of my tribes). The war party had guns. The others only had Maori weapons. They fought from morning up to noon and some fell on both sides. The most killed were on the side of the people who only had Maori weapons. It was on account of their having guns their ancestors never came. The Ngati Kahungunus who were fighting at Orongorongo ran away. This war party was composed of some thousands. They went to Wairarapa and fought at a place at Whitiwhiti and some fell on both sides. Takawhairangi was a chief of Ngati Kahungunu who was killed. He was a brave man and only had a wooden weapon to fight with. After this the war party returned. Mata Roria is the name of the chief who was killed. They returned home. Some of the war party went through the Whanganui district and some by the coast.

On their arrival at Whanganui they were attacked by the Whanganui and Turuhari a chief of the war party was killed. Those who escaped alive returned home. Their head General was killed. A long time after this. Rauparaha came back again, he having seen this country when he came down with the war party. When that party with whom Rauparaha Tuwhari were with they took a woman from this. Her name was Pikinga. She was taken prisoner on the first coming of the war party. She was a Ngati Apa. This woman was taken up to Kawhia and came down again with them when Rauparaha came the second time. He came as far as Waitotara. Pehituroa being at that time at Manawatu. Pehi gave orders that if Rauparaha appeared he should be killed. Pehituroa went to Whanganui and the chiefs of Ngati Apa went up to Waitotara to fetch Rauparaha. Pehituroa was a chief of Whanganui. He gave his instructions to the Muaupoko about Rauparaha. They went, that is the Ngati Apa, to bring Rauparaha to protect him from being killed. Pehi’s wish to kill Rauparaha was his own. The tribes did not wish it. A Whanganui chief called Rangiwhakarurua went with the Ngati Apa chiefs to bring Rauparaha and to prevent Pehi’s instructions from being carried out. Rauparaha then came down with these chiefs to Rangitikei.

He stayed there and was there a long time, about two months. They then let him come on to Manawatu and crossed the river to the other side. He found some women there and he killed them. Waimai was one and she was a great chieftainess of Muaupoko. She was eaten.

After this he went on to Ohau and sent a man asking Muaupoko for a canoe. Wharanui went on arriving at Rauparaha’s place he saw some remnants of human bones. When [he] saw them he found out that Waimai had been killed.

This man returned to Horowhenua and reported this. They then made inquiries and found Waimai had been killed.

Muaupoko then started on account of this murder and went to a place called Te Whi in the Ohau district. They attacked Rauparaha and killed all but Rauparaha and Rakuheria. 60 people were killed at Te Whi. Rauparaha’s children were killed. Poakara son of his was spared. Rauparaha continued on to the place where the main body of his men and then returned to Otohiti to seek payment for his men that had been killed. The people who were on the island, Rangitane and Ngati Apa they were the people whose chiefs had gone for him to Waitotara.

These people sent a canoe and Rauparaha went on board and attacked and killed the people. Turipoto Tamaraki and Te Oi were killed at this place. The party then went away towards Waikanae. They were followed by a party of Muaupoko. Rauparaha went off to Kapiti. The war party who followed him went back but did nothing. Rauparaha came on shore and attacked the people at Waikiekie at Horowhenua. One of the people was killed. The rest escaped in canoes.

Muaupoko now raised a war party and attacked the Ngati Toa and defeated them at Waimapihi. They then returned and started off and had a fight at Paekakariki and some of Ngati Toa were killed. The Ngati Apa now began to take steps on account of the people that had been killed. Paora Turangapito and a party of Ngati Apa came down and joined with Muaupoko, Rangitane, Ngati Kahungunu. They went as far as Waimea a place near Waikanae.

They attacked Ngati Toa and slaughtered 100. They caught Pehi’s children and killed them. They then returned and the descendant of Pehi is Mr Parata, our Member. Those who were left in this flight went off to Kapiti. The others were so elated that they raised a large force and attacked Kapiti. Some of the canoes landed and some would not. A battle was fought at Waiorua at Kapiti and these tribes who went off were defeated by the Ngati Toa and Ngati Awa. The attack was made by our tribe but we were beaten.

Pehi went away to England after his children were killed to get guns. Rauparaha went to Ngapuhi and Ngatata went away to the Ngati Awa country to get them to come down. Ngati Awa came down by the coast. They killed and ate solitary people as the came down and Ngati Awa and Ngati Toa sent some Muaupoko slaves which they had had with them some time with baskets of fish to Horowhenua. They in return got some eels and took them to their chiefs. Ngati Toa now prepared a large feast of fish and sent a messenger to Muaupoko inviting them to the feast. Muaupoko went to Waikanae where the feast was. They took the food from thence to Horowhenua and consumed it. There was peace at this time. Muaupoko then prepared a large feast. They got a large quantity of eels, birds etc. They erected a stage on which the food was placed. They sent to Ngati Toa, Ngati Awa and the Ngati Apa who came to Horowhenua and they took the food back with them. They went on to Ohau and came back from thence at night to the place where the food was given away and also to several other places. In the morning they attacked these places and killed them. 400 persons were treacherously killed.

The defeats which I suffered were not fair ones. It was all through treachery. Another war party came under Te Korehu a Waikato chief. These war parties were very numerous. All the tribes who came down here were numerous. Many fights took place during this period. The remnants of us who were left were living at Waiwiri, Horowhenua and Papaitonga. This last is the name of the pah.

That great war party arrived here went on to Wellington and came back to Horowhenua and my Father Tauwhaki and some other chiefs went in a canoe and paddled round the shores of the lake and found it covered with men. They caught two men who were cooking food. They belonged to the war party. Apiturangi and Rangiwhakakaki were their names. They were killed and eaten. Muaupoko now began to consider the many occasions on which they had been deceived by the war parties and they prepared a piece of wood, stripped off the bark and put on bark lace leaves to imitate a Mere Pounamu. They went and shook it about I the pah. The war party called out that they should like to have the mere. They told them to come and fetch the mere. They asked for canoes to go and get it. They did come. The canoes landed. The war party came on board and they came to the pah at Waikeikei and we killed them. This was an act of treachery on Muaupoko side. The war party saw it and cursed without any avail. They collected a war party of Muaupoko and started in the evening. There were 60 altogether and went on in the night to attack the other party who were very numerous. They got up to the party and attacked them. Their houses were only toi toi and they were smashed on the heads of the people. The Muaupoko women were in canoes. Muaupoko killed all they could catch. The canoes were on the lake for the men in case of retreat. The war party charged on the 60 and they were all caught except for my father Tangaru and Mauroa. My father then called out to a supposed party. Kahukore the great general of the women heard it and chanted a ngrei.

The enemy ran off after this supposing that a large party were in the bush. These 60 men then embarked in the canoes. Tahitahi a chief of Waikato was killed. 100 men were killed (Waikato). The Waikatos went away after this.

Ngati Toa, Ngati Awa and Ngati Ama were living at this time at Waikanae and Kapiti. All these great fights were over and Tokorehu and his party went home. They went through Rangitikei, Turakina and Whangaehu killing people as they went. Hori Kingi’s brother came down to Manaiwhero a branch of the Whangaehu. He met the war party. A battle was fought between the war party on one side and Ngati Apa and Whanganui on the other. My uncle was killed. Patapu was his name. The Whanganuis heard he had been killed. They collected together and followed the war party whom they attacked and defeated them. The chiefs killed were Pukirinu and another. The Whanganui party under Hori Kingi followed them up and killed Eru Para. They followed again and killed Te Otatu. After this the remnant of the war party fled to Rotoira near the foot of Tongoriro. Te Wharorangi caught the remnant of them there and killed them.

The news of the defeat at Rotoira was heard of and a party set out to take revenge. Some of this party were Ngapuhi and they had guns. They arrived at Rotoira where there was a pah called Motuopuhe. It is on the Lake Rotoira, on the borders. The Ngapuhi and Ngati Raukawa fought against them and took it. The party then returned.

In those days Ngati Maru were the enemies of Raukawa. Ngati Toa, Ngati Ama were living at Kapiti. Ngati Maru attacked Ngati Raukawa and killed Whata Karaka. The Raukawa then came down this way. I wish it understood that it was on account of Raukawa being defeated that they came down here. They did not come of their own accord. The Ngati Raukawa went to Ngati Kahungunu country and tried to take over their country. They were attacked and beaten by Ngati Kahungunu at Pukenanoa.

Those who escaped came down to upper Whanganui where the misbehaved themselves by stealing pigs and they tore up graves. The Whanganuis were angry. The Ngati Raukawa ate Wharirangi and these things made them angry. The Raukawa next killed Heke Purai belonging to Whanganui. The Whanganui in their turn killed Te Tahatu and Mahunga of Ngati Raukawa. The Whanganui heard of this and collected together in order to exterminate Raukawa.

Ngati Apa was concerned in this. They went on to Onepoto on the Whanganui River and one of the chiefs called out to let the eel be eaten head first not the tail. All the chiefs agreed to it. The pah they were going to was occupied by Ngati Raukawa and Ngati Whakatere. They fought. Te Puaho’s wife Karaua looked down and called to Hori

Kingi “You slave you had no regard for me. If your chief had been alive he would have thought of me.” She meant Hori Kingi’s brother who had been killed on a former occasion. Hori then rushed into the and rubbed noses with Puaho. The people in the pah were spared and peace was made. The Whanganuis and Hori Kingi’s party, also Ngati Raukawa and Ngati Whakatere all came out and went away. Raukawa and Ngati Whakatere separated.

The Whanganui then went in pursuit of Raukawa and found them at Makokoti. They surrounded them. Tupaia fired his gun but did not hit anyone. Te Kotohu a chief was killed. The pah was surrounded. The Raukawa were hard pressed for food. They sold their wives and children for potatoes. They were starving. They came out of the pah and the war party killed 100 and about 100 were spared. The chief who was killed was called Te Ruamairo. The chiefs who were spared were Te Ao, Te Puke, Tupaia, Wharemakatea, and the relatives of these people were spared. After this the Raukawa got up a war party to go and take revenge. They came to Tongoriro. They found some bird and rat catching men of my father’s They killed them.

They came on to Ranana on the Whanganui River. Hori Kingi saw them there. This was Te Whatanui’s party. Hori Kingi went to them and rubbed noses with Whatanui and he liberated the prisoners who came from Makokoti and they joined the rest of their tribe.

Ngati Raukawa went away. Whatanui’s party went to Hawkes Bay to take revenge and land for their previous losses.

Raukawa were killed at Rototara. Some were killed and some were taken prisoner. Whatanui’s family were taken and the wives of the chief were taken. These women were cohabited with and many of the people present are offspring of these people. Raukawa went to Taupo. Then they thought it would be best for them to come here because they had been killed in Whanganui and Hawkes Bay and had nowhere else to go. They looked and saw that Rauparaha was living here.

Whatanui and Te Heu Heu came to this district at the time. The name of this migration was Hekewhirinui. They arrived here and went to see Rauparaha. Ngati Toa gave them the name of Hekewhirinui they say. Saw Taiweherua, Kekerengu, and Amo. They were glad to see them.

Kekerengu was living at Porirua. Rauparaha, Te Heu Heu and Whatanui were on friendly terms at Porirua. Te Heu Heu returned to Taupo along with Whatanui. After this Raukawa came back leaving Heu Heu behind.

I was living all the time at Horowhenua when these people were coming down. This party of Raukawa came down to Rangitikei. Some came by way of Turakina. One man was killed at Turakina. He was a Ngati Apa. He was living quietly and did not know anyone was coming to kill him. The pahs of Ngati Apa were at Otakapore and Awamate.

At this stage the Court adjourned at 3 pm until 10 am Wednesday the 20th Nov. 1872.

Identification