MAORI EARTHWORKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 141, 16 June 1936, Page 11

MAORI EARTHWORKS.

EARLY WAITEMATA HISTORY. SITE AT ST. HELIER'S. A brief history of the Waitemata Harbour and the Tamaki Kiver was given by Air. 0. R. Brookes when members of the anthropology and Maori race section of the Auckland Institute and Museum met on Mr. S. Parkinson's property, St. Helicr's, on Saturday afternoon to inspect the old Maori earthworks there. Mr. Brookes said the ancient Maoris called the upper part of the harbour Wai-Te-Mata and the lower portion Tamaki. The spot where Mr. Parkinson's house stood was probably protected by three lines of palisades. The history of the Waitemata went back before 1350, and Mr. Brookes described how the famous canoe Tainui arrived by sea and land at the Manukau Harbour. Mr. Brookes also explained how in about 1700 the powerful chief Kiwi Tamaki was overthrown at Titirangi, and with his death the historic greenstone war gong of One Tree Hill, Wliakarewhataliuna-, was lost for all time. His successor, Tupiriri, was installed at One Tree Hill and his followers occupied other vantage points around Auckland. The peace which followed was broken by Tupiriri's son, Tara-Hawaiki, who insulted another chief who ruled about 40 miles away. Subsequent fighting led to Tara-Hawaiki's death, and liis son became the famous chief Te Kawau. It was this chief who headed the list of names on the deed of sale of July 29, 1841, when the site of Auckland was transferred to the ownership of the pakeha.