FIGHTING HISTORY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 72, 17 December 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

FIGHTING HISTORY

Te Rauparaha’s Ravages Recalled

CONQUEST OF ISLAND PA

There are few places in New Zealand so rich in Maori history as Otaki. It was the natural fortress of Kapiti that Te Uauparaha made his stronghold, and for many years be lived in Otaki. In the book “Old ManawatuT the late Mr. Lindsay Buick relates that Te Rauparaha, in pursuance of his policy of extermination, had been interspersing his larger campaigns with frequent attacks on the Rangltane and Muaupoko tribes, which lived nearby on the mainland. Finding that these attacks were becoming more frequent and more vigorous, the chiefs of the ■latter tribe conceived a plan by which they hoped to thwart their implacable enemies.

Hitherto their pa had been built on the shores of the lakes, where they had lived ever since their arrival in the district. Now they decided to abandon these strongholds, which were exposed to every enemy raid, and build their dwellings in the centre of Lake Horowhenua and Lake Papaitonga. At the cost of an amazing amount of industry and labour they constructed artificial islands on the beds of these lakes at their deepest parts, and on these mounds they built a Maori version of Venice. The construction of these Islands was most ingenious, and the straits to which the Muaupoko were driven before they imposed upon themselves so laborious a task were almost unbelievable.

Building the Island.

Proceeding to the bush, their first operation was to hew down a number of strong saplings, pointed at one end. These were driven into the soft mud of the bed of the lakes, closely enclosing in rectangular, form sufficient space on which to place the foundation of a house. Smaller stakes were

driven in the centre of the enclosure, upon which were spitted those compact masses bf vegetation known to the European as “Maori heads.” A layer of these gave the builders a solid base on which to work, and huge stones, earth and gravel were transported from surrounding places in canoes and poured into the enclosure until the pile of debris rose some distance above the level of the water. Six such man-made islands were formed in Lake Horowhenua, and two in Lake Papaitonga, and on them whare were erected which, when necessary, were extended by the addition of platforms reaching a considerable distance beyond the islands. To Rauparaha’s Strategy. Little they reckoned, however, on the strategy of so cunning an enemy. A placid sheet of water, they found to their,terror and consternation, could not keep that doughty warrior at bay. Canoes he certainly had not, but his braves were strong and courageous swimmers, and it is one of the outstanding tributes to Maori daring that on a dark and gloomy night a small band of these undertook to swim to one of the island pa in Lake Horowhenua and attack its unsuspecting inhabitants.

They lashed their mere and other weapons to their wrists and slid silently into the water, and by swift side-strokes reached the walls of Waipata par, which they had chosen for their attempt, and soon swarmed over tile sides of the barriers before a single note of warning could be uttered. Taken, at such- a disadvantage, it was not to be expected that the resistance of the Muaupoko would be serious, for they were stunned by surprise and paralysed with fear,. Flight was their first thought, and those who were not slain either in fight, or retreat,. plunged into the lake and swam for dear life to she!ter. '-In this endeavour to avert death all were not successful. It was estimated that between the killed and drowned the attack on Wai pa ta cost the Muaupoko several hundred lives. Added to their misfortune was the destruction' of their belief that their island pa was -inaccessible, ,

Te Rauparaha then decided, on a plan without parallel in European warfare, or example in subsequent Maori history. His scheme involved no less a feat than the haulage of his canoes over the belt of land which separates lake and sea. The lake outlet even today is but an insignificant stream, and to its mouth were brought such canoes as had fallen to Te Rauparaha’s lot. By night the vessels were man-hauled, and for brief intervals floatpd up the small waterway, and altogpfher.;' three miles were traversed before break of the next day. As' soon as' dawn .appeared the canoes were shipped into the lake, and the Slumbering inhabitants of Waikiekie attacked on every side. Few escaped the terrible slaughter, and once again Te Rauparaha completed another chapter of conquest.