More Info →Otaki Maori Landcourt Minutebook - 27 March 1878.

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Wednesday 27^th March 1878

Court opened at 10 am.

Present – the same

Xed by Watene Ranginui

Hoani Meihana - continued

Our alliance with Ngati Kauwhata was in respect to Rangitikei as well as Ouroa Aorangi at that time was not under discussion.

Hunia did not say anything in Wellington about Aorangi.

I heard Ropiha’s evidence. The land did belong to him and the places ere his.

Ohungarea was occupied by Ngati Kauwhata before I was born. The old boundaries were laid off as between the different hapu’s before Ngati Kauwhata came here.

The persons who have permanently occupied this land for 40 years are Ngati Kauwhata and a portion of Ngati Tauera.

The sale of Ahuaturanga was proposed by Rereti and Hirawanu. I objected.

Ngati Kauwhata and I fixed at Mangaone afterwards shifted t oTaonui.

The division of this land was between Ngati Kauwhata, Rangitane and Ngati Tauere. The mana of Ngati Kauwhata was never reduced.

I could point out on the ground, every cultivation of Ngati Kauwhata and that of the original owners.

Tapita spoke falsely when she said Ngati Kauwhata were her parents servants also when she said she knew nothing about the Awahuri affair. She spoke the truth when she said she had houses and cultivations on this land.

I don’t know that Ngatirake ever occupied this land. There was no boundary laid off between us before the Rangitikei purchase. We held the land in common.

Tapa Te Wata – sworn

I belong to Ngati Kauwhata and live at Awahuri.

I can point out the cultivations.

Papatere is one and is on the Oroua, Mangatangi is another, Taonui is one also.

I will only mention the principal ones we cultivated with Rangitane at Pikiarero and Te Ruaiteaka also Hoere was cultivated long ago jointly.

Iwiroa was another cultivation, Pohutuai between Kerei and Ngati Kauwhata, Mahau by Ngati Kauwhata, Te Awe was done by Kerei and Ngati Kauwhata. Pohue belonged to Ngati Wai and Ngati Kauwhata, Tuaweheima Ngati Kauwhata where I built a canoe, Tangawhetu worked on by Kauera and Ngati Kauwhata, Tamatahe by Kauera, Kopani by Ngati Kauwhata also Ruaki Tekatea, Pikopiko, Whitianga Te Ra, Kai Iwi, Hinioapaenga also Mangaotematua inland.

These cultivations were ours. Some of our cultivations are in middle Aorangi.

It was arranged with hamuera that our cultivations in his block should be given up to him. Some of Ngatitauera cultivations are in our block. Hamuera gave them up to us when we subdivided the land. He will have nothing further to do with our block since the subdivision. He and his relatives will have that land.

The Upokoiri came to take this land also Ngati Raukawa.

I sent them away and they did not get the land.

Xed by Watene Rangiuru

Ngati Apa never drove me off formerly their attempting to do so now vide this rehearing.

We drove off Upokoiri from this land. I admit the claim of Ngati Tauera because they have always lived on it.

I admit Kerei and some others.

I have no new cultivation at Ruapuha but my mana extends over the whole block.

The Ngati Tauera told me the names of the places I’ve mentioned to the court.

Those of the Ngati Apa who were present at the subdivision, I recognize.

Ngati Tauera have never mentioned any other hapu;s of Ngati Apa as being interested.

Upokoiri were opposed to me and I sent them away.

I consider the compact about this land was complete as myself and friends agreed to it. I know nothing about the Rake. Ngati Apa first proposed to sell Rangitikei. Rangitane and Ngati Kauwhata were strong to withhold Aorangi from sale. It was only us who kept it back. I do not know that any of Ngati Apa of Rangitikei withheld it.

I heard that Ngati Apa went to get money when the money for Ahituranga was paid. Ngati Tauera got some. I believe I was at Awahuri at the time.

We have occupied this land before the battle of Haowhenua and ever since.

I think it was last year the survey was interrupted by Ngati Apa.

Xed by Watene

Hoerara Kahuhui – sworn

I belong to Ngati Kauwhata. I live at Awahuri and Aorangi.

We were in occupation at the time of the Treaty of Waitangi. We have always been in permanent possession of Aorangi from before the time of Haowhenua.

Ngati Apa has never driven us off.

When Hirairanu proposed to sell up to Oroua River we objected and put it back to Taonui. This was done by Ngati Kauwhata and Rangitane.

Te Rauparaha invited my people to come here.

I did not hear that Hunia stopped the rent for the mill.

I am one of the persons concerned in it.

I am not receiving rent for it at present.

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