TREE ON MOUNT EDEN

Feilding Star, Volume 7, Issue 2305, 7 September 1929, Page 5

TREE ON MOUNT EDEN

“LAW OF TAPE VIOLATED” PLANT DESTROYED IN FLOOD Two years ago the action of Te Akarana. Maori Association in plantTbg a young fotara tree, on ‘ the sieves of Mount- Eden was challenged by a Maori woman, Kohupaki, who hold that- the law of tapu had been violated'. She cast a makutu or curse on the young tree andl said it would not survive. There was considerable comment last March when the bursting of the wall of the. Mount Eden Reservoir, with its consequent flood, destroyed the tree and apparently fulfilled Koliupaki’s prediction. But- Association is prepared to defy her makutu, for last Saturday afternoon members of the association gathered on Mount Eden and another tree was planted. Kohupaki claims to have the lineal rights of the Waihoua tribe, wliidl'4 occupied Mount Eden before the. main tide of Maori- immigration to Ao-tea-roa., The arrival of other natives saw the end of the Wailiouas. Thev were almost sfampedl out of existence hv virile marauders from - the Kaipara district, hut Kohupaki says that tapu law is m* viol able and trill. always persist. Therefore, vrifcn tbfc association planted its first t.i'oe, she pronounced 'her makutu. She also {cursed a puriri tree planted on Mount Eden bv Princess Te Puea.