A MAORI KANGA

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3248, 19 January 1926, Page 10

A MAORI KANGA

HOW IT WAS REALISED. "Wiremu” writes as follows to the Wellington Bulletin; “About 60 years ago the village ciders at Waitara were perturbed by the behaviour of the -village Don Juan, who, being also a toa, well skilled in arms had added murder to his offences, splitting the heads of several of the protesting husbands. The eiders thereupon issued their- sentence that the man must be killed. No one cared for the executioner’s job, but Te Rangi. a Ngatikahungunu chief, on a visit, kindly offered to officiate, and, seizing an opportune moment, blew the offender’s head off. After the first breath of relief at having found someone to do the unpleasant job, one of the maroraias of the deceased raised the question of the right of a Ngatikihungunu to' murder a Waitara warrior ,and the men of the tribe had to agree that retribution must be obtained for the act. Promptly Te Rang! fled, and although pursued for several days, eventually escaped. A Kanga (curse) was laid upon him and his descendants forever; If they ever came to Waitara their lives would be forfeit. Fiftylflve years passed, and Te Puia, a descendant of To Rangi, married to a South Island Maori husband, decided to - accompany him with a party to a big hui that was being held at Waitara, After her arrival she chanted her whakapapa (genealogy). An old crony who listened said; “You who are descended from Te Rangi are foolish to come here, for you will neve leave Waitara alive.” The story was told to the girl, and almost immediately she became ill, and in a few days was dead. The pakeha may ascribe the death to fright or natural causes, but the Maori knows the potency of makutu.”