Historic Axe On View At Jubilee Of Maori School

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28480, 9 January 1958, Page 13

Historic Axe On View At Jubilee Of Maori School

-TM Ptmb* Special 'Servtca

AUCKLAND, January 7. A hafted axe, which was used ty the Aupouri tribe of the Far Perth in the wars against Hongi gika, of Ngapuhi, more than 100 ears ago and which was thought to have been captured- by the enemy, was produced at the recent jubilee of Te Kao Maori District High School. Called Tunuiarangi, the axe is believed to have been the first trade axe brought to New Zealand, having been procured in England by an ancestor of the Aupouri people 150 years ■go. The axe is greatly valued and respected by the Aupouri as representing an atua, or god, and is believed to possess extraordinary powers which preserve the wellbeing and safety of the tribe. Tunui was a god highly regarded by the Maoris in ancient times as a guardian of tapu places and fortified villages. It was small wonder, therefore, that those attending the celebrations gathered round to view the cherished axe when it was produced by an elder, the Rev. Mutu Kapa, of Tuakau. to whose care it was committed after being passed down from its first owner, Te Hotaewa, the revered ancestor of Aupouri. The triangular-shaped metal axe is hafted on a long, smooth handle made of akeake which is finely carved at each end with designs apparently done with ■tone tools. In spite of its great age the blade still has a keen edge. Mr Kapa told the story of Tunuiarangi. He recalled how their chief, Ihupango, went to England and brought back with him- the axe and a musket “He must have been one of the first Maoris to visit England,” said Mr Kapa. Ihupango gave the musket to his nephew, Hotaewa, who asked him how to use it So Ihupango took the youth to Mangonui Bluff, near Ninety-Mile Beach, where

he demonstrated the effectiveness of the weapon by shooting a bird. Hotaewa was not impressed. He said: “Hus is no good. It is not I do not like to kill anything from that distance.” So Ihupango showed him the axe which Hotaewa thought was better as it allowed the enemy to come , ose an< i fight man-to-man. When Ngapuhi, with the muskets which Hongi had procured in England, attacked Aupouri at Hukatere, Hotaewa took the hafted axe into battle. Seeing Hongi approaching, Hotaewa leaped on to the parapet of the pa and attacked the great chief with the axe. He missed Hongi, but killed his slave. Hongi’s musket was captured but, according to Mr Kapa, it was afterwards returned to Ngapuhi. Driven from Hukatere, Aupouri took refuge at Houhora. Hotaewa had three bullet wounds which he plugged with flax and was able to reach Pukenui with great difficulty. There he was forced to swim across the Houhora Harbour, so he gave his precious axe to his cousin, a woman named Te Huia, to hide. As she was disposing of the axe, Kiroa, the champion fighter of Ngapuhi, came up to her and asked ,who was the man swimming across the harbour. She said it was Hotaewa. The host of Ngapuhi jumped into the water to pursue the Aupouri chief. Weapon Safely Hidden Hotaewa reached the other side of the harbour exhausted and unable to stand up because of his wounds. Overtaken by his pursuers, he welcomed them according to Maori custom and then addressed the giant Kiroa. He said: “If I am to die I do not wish to die as a little fish. Let me have the death of a fighting shark.” Kiroa levelled his taiaha at Hotaewa’s heart: Hotaewa grasped it and broke it in half, .That insult was the signal for a duel, Hotaewa could only use his arms and was killed by Kiroa.