TOKI POUWAMU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19193, 5 December 1925, Page 1 (Supplement)

TOKI POUWAMU.

GREENSTONE ADZES.

BY (3EORCE GRAHAM

Thero is in our Auckland Museum a wonderful collection of Maori adzes —more especially of the greenstone type. Some of tlieso are of remarkable size and beauty of. workmanship. Generally they are referred to as "Ceremonial adzes" —for, although we know little as to the actual history of most of the adzes in our collection, it is known in a general way that lliey were not implements of everyday use, but were connected with the more ceremonial aspects of ancient Maori Jif«t The sacredriess of the greenstone adze probably arose from the practical difficulty in fashioning stone implements, so that a well-fashioned adze was in great demand. A Polynesian chief would often send his messengers to distant islands to arrange for the loan of an adze. Hence doubtless there arose in connection with the use of such famous adzes much ceremonial and ritual, and from very ancient times mythological beliefs were associated with these adzes, their making and their use.

These beliefs and usages the Maori brought with him from the Pacific. Several of the adzes in our collection arc probably identical with adzes famed in Maori and even Polynesian tradition. Their identity, however, cannot now be established. Hidden in secret places, in burial caverns and forest depths to preserve them from capture by a conquering enemy, their whereabouts would be forgotten. Found again in European times, nothing is ascertainable in respect of their history. Ngahue was the reputed discoverer of these Islands. He took away with him to Polynesia some blocks of greenstone. From these blocks were fashioned several adzes which became famous, no doubt because of the rarity of the stone, and were much sought after for their "mana" and sacredness. Undoubtedly this was due to their efficacy in working, the greenstone being much superior to the materials previously in use. In fact it is more than probable that the discovery of greenstone was one of the factors in inducing immigration hither from Polynesia.

Tree-felling and Wood-working. Ceremonial adzes are mentioned in connection with tree-felling and wood-work inc.dental to the fashioning of canoes, house-building, etc. Such adzes were essential to the initial cutting, the priests conducting the operation with much ritual. The consecration of such labours was necessary to the success of the undertaking. No canoe could escape disaster at he a. nor house bring other than untold calamity to its owner—unless the trees therein used were thus sanctified. For Tano, the God of Forests, had to be appeased for the slaying of his children, the forest trees, when they were felled and put to human use. Certain ceremonies were observed at the birth of male children of rank,. A tree was then ceremonially planted in the vicinity of the village. The tribal sacred adze was used in connection with the planting of the tree. Such a tree (a totara) stood on the slopes of One Tree Hill until European times--planted to commemorate the birth of a young chief there in the dim past. The adze then used was a Ngati-Awa heirloom, "Turuimt" —the present day whereabouts of which is not known. Another such tree was a ngaio, planted when the Ngapuhi chief Waka Nene was born. The adze then »s6d ("Ara-hina") is still extant in the Ngapuhi country. Used in Navigation,

The sacred adzi was essential to the ancient ocean navigator. It was emblematically used to " cut down the waves" and " cleat- the path across the ocean breast." Hence the concluding words when the final sharpening of an adze, was accomplished Sharpened. Oh Hine, is the edge of our adze A pathway (maker) for us, That we may cross over, to the other side Of ocean's depths, Oh Hine! Knpe is said to have first explored this country as the result of Ngahue's discovery. Ngahue presented him with the greenstone adze " Fauira-a-Pa." 1 his adze was used in the navigation ceremonials—hence the still well-known chant ' Sharpen, sharpen the adze Of Hine-tua-Hoansa' For this is even I, lvupe, Who cometh to seek a path Across the ocean's hreast, "Which yonder surges ever on. The success of these voyages, and the many dangers overcome from sea-monsters, etc., was attributed to the rnana of this sacred adze. When the canoe. Takitumu, was in difficulties ap sea, a similar ceremonial by the aid of the adze Awhiorangi " is said to have saved the position. The Giant Adze in Auckland Museum. Among the adzes in the museum collection is one that attracts attention- because of its great size. It is 27in. long, and is therefore a record in greenstone adzes. This unique specimen was found in the Waikato district, but otherwise we know nothing of its history. Undoubtedly it was an adze of outstanding importance—and no doubt one of several of such adzes, the whereabouts of which have been for gotten- . The following is the story of a longlost adze, named "Matangi-rei, as told me by the late Ngakapa Whanaungn an ancient, man of Hauraki and a lineal ticscendant of the Tainui's chiefs:— Matangi-rei (the raiser of the gentle wind) was made of greenstone taken from this land by Ngahue to Hawaiki. It became the possession of 'luri, he who came hither in Aotea, luri used this adze to cut his way across the ocean, for it was an adze of great mana. Turi kept the adze in a sacred bowl in the stern of Ins canoe, "Aotea," . Hotunui came from Waitara to Kawhia, he possessed "Matangi-rei," and the greenstone hoi-tiki "Kahotea." I' rom kawhia he came here to Whareluiwa and built here his homo at Wai-ari. There he kept "Matangi-rei." Marutuahu later joined Hotu here and from him aro descended the Marutuahu tribes of Hauraki. "Matangi-rei" was used In felling trees for and in the building of the "Whenuaroa," "Tai-o-to-puruhi, ' "Kahu-inau-ron" and others. It was used in the ceremonies of the birth and christening (iriiringa) of all the great chiefs of Hauraki, down to the times of Te Taniwha. When Ngapuhi made war on these parts our Hauraki people went inland to Maungatautari. On their way they were attacked by Ngapuhi at Kirikiriroa (near Hamilton),' and many of our people weV* there killed. Ma'angirei was thereabouts hidden by the old chief Taki-tahi. He had previ ouslv declined to band the adze in NgajMihi when the TOtara pa. was besieged (1823). On that occasion the hei-tiki "Kahotea" was given to Ngapuhi with several greenstone meres as peace offerings. Taki-tahi was killed at laumatnwiwi (1833) in battle, so with him was lost the knowledge as to Matangi-rei. That is all about Matangi-rei. Such is the inference to this adze in a general narrative given me bv Ngakapa who died about 1905. Whether the great axe in our museum is identical with ii can now only be surtniaed.