HISTORY OF TE AWAPUNI

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 275, 3 November 1933, Page 11

HISTORY OF TE AWAPUNI

THE MAORI INSTITUTE Women’s institutes are very desirous of knowing all'about the name of • Te Awapuni” given to the Maori institute, and what it represents. For future compilation of a book each institute was asked last week to prepare its history and the district m which its meetings are held. “Te Awapuni” had earlier in the year prepared its history and incorporated it in their programme tor tho year. It is as follows: Te Awapuni was an ancient and important Maori Pa, situated on Waitangi Fiat near Clive and midway between where Hastings and Napier are now standing, on the Heretaunga Plains.* It was famous amongst the Maori people for several reasons, and from its position on the banks of the Ngaruroro river where the latter joins the sea, it laced an ocean frontage of many miles. It was here that the most famous and finest of the chiefs lived —and were visited from time to time by high chiefs 11oni ether districts, and on these occasions great meetings were held- contests of skill in songs, hakas and speech making, were arranged, and the chiefs discussed n atters of general imp >rtniwe to the community. It was during one ol these gatherings that the Itev. W. Colenso visited Te Awapuni. So well rc’ embered in our Maori m.-toiy as “the introduction oi Christian faith amongst our Maori people in this district. So much were the people impressed by his eloquence that they immediately resolved to renounce their uncivilised mode of living and to commemorate this event they erected a special building large enough for congregational purposes.

It was built chiefly of Pukakaho (rush) and Totara while the altar and the pillars were beautifully carved by skilled craftsmen, thus completing the largest M:\ori church at their time in Heretaunga.

It was at Te Awapuni that final peace was arranged and a treaty signed by the chiefs of Hawke's Bay in settlement of their inter-tribal wars.

To-day the ancient pa —the respected and cherished pride of so many Maoris —no longer exists, but the traditional value of its name is revived, and is perpetuated by the Te Awapuni Women’s Institute, most of whose members are the surviving descendants of tho Maori chiefs of tho old Te Awapuni Pa. * “Heretaunga” is of traditional origin. Later the name was bestowed on a sacred earved building used for magical powers, or mana, so reverenced by the ancient Maoris, hence the adoption of tho name tor tho district.

MEETINC AT ASHLEY CLINTON INTERESTING DEMONSTRATION From Our Own Correspondent. The members of the Ashley Clinton Women’s Institute met on Thursday afternoon in tho Ashley Clinton Hall. Mrs Dampney presided. The roll call, “child’s funny saying,” caused much amusement. An interesting demonstration on the making of seagrass stools was given by Mrs Hanna for which she was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Tho antique display proved most beautiful and interesting, many articles bearing a history several hundred years old.

A dainty afternoon tea was served by the hostesses, Mcsdames C. Tliompsen, Waldin and Young.