A MAORI LEADER

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 95, 23 April 1938, Page 8

A MAORI LEADER

"MARCH OF TE RAUPARAHA."

(By CEO. GRAHAM.)

I MigM I offer <i friendly criticism of Miss Eileen review of Bracken's poem, above entitled and the accompanying brief biographical sketch of that famous (or as some esteem him. infamous) old chieftain of Xgati-Toa? First as to the name he bore, which, like all personal name.* of the Maori, is of historic significance—and in his case thus the origin: An elder relative, Te Kangikatukna. had fallen in buttle against the Waikato people. His body wilt* consigned to the cannibal ovens, enveloped in a wrapping of ran (leaves) of the parahil (a convolvulus,' or bindweed, species). The child at the time of this happening was burn to Te Herawara. the IXaati-Ton head chief. To commemorate the affair of Te Kanjikatukua's death, and to I perpetuate the imilive for revenge, the child was warned Te Haiipiiraha. Hi* father predicted his son would attain distinguished warriordom. and enhance the tribal fortunes and prestige by levying due vengeance against Waikato and other hereditary foes. And so it was that in his yet early manhood Te Rauparaha led several successful campaigns agniiwf Waikato ami amply avenged the deaths ami former reverse*, of N'gati-Toa.

The Waikato tribe*, however, gradually became letter supplied with firearm*; whereas Te Rauparnlia realised that Kawhia lacked the trailing advantages whereby his people might become similarly equipped. Therefore the tribal exi-rc'ice was ; ,t stake-so he decided to evacuate his ancestral district of Kawhia and migrate to the Cook Strait district. There trade, firearms and consequential security were assured him and his tiihe. Hence the heke (migration), the subject of Bracken's poem. The Fight at Wairau. Mis* Diigyan's brief outline of Te Rauparalia's subsequent career calls also for some criticism. She (like many other pakeha narrators) refers to the Wairau conflict a* a "massacre." Tn deference to Maori feeling and historic accuracy that term should not be used. The siti' of that affair is no longer named "Massaer ■ Hill," but is now graced with its original Maori name. Tuamarina. The bloodshed at Wairau was due to the illegal and all-advised nrnied expedition to wrongfully arrest Te lianparaha and his turbulent nephew, Te Rangihaenta. In the ensuing struggle—it is definite that this ill-led force fired first on the Maoris—Rongo (a woman of rank and niece of Te Raiiparaha ami the wife of Rangihaeata) was shot dead with several others, as well ,is many being wounded. Rauparalui vainly endeavoured to restrain the European* as well as his own followers, who, however, got out of han<l and delivered their first volley into the disorganised body of Europeans. Then began a debacle, and the slaughter of the Europeans with the exception of several who escaped. Xow if the position had been reversed and the force successful. despite loss of life to the Maorie involved, probably that would not have been termed a "massacre." As to Grey's discreditable arrest of Te Rauparaha at nkrht in his home at Waikanae— that was undoubtedly also an ill-advised act which might have indeed had serious consequences. WhiNt under the enforced detention after his arrest Te Rauparaha sent urgent messages (o his incensed tribesmen to forbear and not resort to armed revenge for his arrest. And subsequent to his release this continued to lie his attitude. If. on the other hand, he had shown a hostile state of mind, and in resentment of what, nowadays seems, to have been an unjust net of Grey had caused the rising of the Southern tribes it would have deluge*" the Southern settlements in bloodshed and brought about their destruction. "Rebels" of the North.

Mi«s Dnnrgan's reference to Grey's activities ■'after subduing a rebellion in the Xorth" w of debatable accuracy. A* a fact the so-called "Xorthern relx-llion" was never "subdued." It is generally conceded that the Northern war terminated iu n flrnw—the honours were even. When Kauiti (HekcVi general) was asked if they were satisfied his reply was. "If you. the pake-ha. are satisliinl (makona), so am I. If you are not—neither am I; but I am readv." As a matter of fact. TT.'ke only awaited some token of encouragement to prosecute the war. but thp Southern chieft*. in accord with Te Rauparaha. disapproved. Hence the end of Xorthern hostilities was due to Maori pacification idea*, and cert a inly not to Grey's methods as evidenced in the arrest of Te Ratipamha.

Mirs Dugcan refers to Te Rauparaha he\n<z "in league with tlio rebel Ransihaeata." Thi* eh'cf wa« einarting under tlie loss of his wife, ■shot at AVninui. and felt his h«s wa« not Kuflk'iently avenged. He also had substantial unsatisfied arievanees concerning landj* wrongfully acquired by tlie Xew Zealand Land Company, and also latterly by the Government agents. In hi* consequent recak-itrant attitude (whilst no doubt he had his Uncle Te Rauparaha's sympathy) it wms certain that he was discouraged in his armed resistance, and Te Rauparaha in fact was long on ill terms with his disgruntled nephew. I have ofttimes heard Bracken*-» poem read or recited to Maori audience*. But they seemed always to fail to appreciate it as in any sense an epic. In fact tliev fail to capture ite ideals, which to the European listener seem beautiful. This, of course, surely illustrates that what by one race of people is regarded as classic, to another it fal!.» far from that standard. For example, tho term "kapai"—as also its oft repetition—is unite an inappropriate term to apply iu laudation of a chieftain'* attainments. In fact it is very infra dig.