PUKERANGIORA PA

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1929, Page 17 (Supplement)

PUKERANGIORA PA

HISTORIC ‘STRONGHOLD

(By

“Old Timer.”)

It was mentioned in. a recent issue of the Daily News that the Pukerangiora reserve had been planted with trees which in about six years have grown to about 30ft. This is a beautiful spot, more so perhaps in the years gone by when we were investing the Maori stronghold than it is to-day. From its eminence a splendid and extensive view of the surroundin'l' country may be obtained. To.the eastward, the bill on which it stands presents a hig'h escarpment to the inei, on the opposite bank of which is situated the village and district of Tikorangiz Beyond, over the tops of the foyest tiecs, and. at a considerable distance rise the peaks of Tongariro and Ruapehu? To the south, massively grand, pure and beautiful, rises the snow clad hgmont, like a stainless jutar on which ministering angels might oiler incense. To the noith and west extends a spacious plain, which have in recent years been converted into -fertile fields and dewy meads,” giving life and enjoyment to herds, men, women and children. Beyond roll t'hc blue .waves of the Pacific. To the northwest near, to the coast rises -Puketapu, or the sacred mount, once the home and fortress of the Puke apu hapit, Pukerangiora, or the hill clad with rangiora trees, was in old times the strong home of the Pukerangiora hapu. At the Sugar Loaves resided the Ngamotu hapu, or hapu of the Islands, North of the Waitara resided the hapirs of AtiNgatirahiri, all sections of the bold and adventurous tribe of Ngatiawa or tribe of the river, so called perhaps from its ancient location on the banks of the. Waitara. From Pukerangiora a forest path skirted the eastern foot of Egmont and led out to the shores of Cook Strait, where dwelt other sections of the tribe. Other paths led to spots favourable for spearing bird, catching eels, and for procuring red ochre, for decorating canoes, houses and faces in times of war.

This secluded and romantic village was people by 15'00 individuals. The seed from which the tribe in general, and this village in particular, reaped a - harvest of sorrow, was sown in 1820. In that year. Hongi Hika, chief of the princely tribe df Ngapuhi, visited England, was presented to King George the Fourth, and received from that monarch, a suit of armour and other valuable presents. He also inspected British soldiers am their weapons. Returning to Sydney ,he exchanged -all his presents except the armour for 300 muskets and ammunition. Returning to New Zealand he commenced a bloody raid upon Waikato. Nor was he- content with- this, but sent his general, Tamati Walker Nene, as far as Taranaki on a mission of slaughter. Mere, spear, and tomahawk, were of no avail'before the murderous English gun; and tin tribes on'learning its destructive powers exerted themselves to the utmost •to procure a stock of the same warlike implements. Scraped flax was generally the article that was bartered for these weapons. ■ In 1829 Te Pahi, a chief, was murdered by the natives of Banks’ Peninsular during a visit made to.barter muskets for •greenstone. No satisfaction was deemed sufficient for such a man, but the head of Tamaiharanui, the chief of the tribe, and it devolved on Rauparaha and Rangihaeata, his nearest relatives, to avenge his death. For this purpose Capt. Stewart, on the promise of a cargo of flax, conveyed Rauparaha and eighty warriors in the brig Elizabeth from Kapiti to Banks Peninsular. When the ship was anchored Rauparaha and his party hid themselves below, while Stewart falsely represented himself to those who came on board as a trader. Stewart invited the chief to visit the ship, and three days afterwards Tamaiharanui, his wife, son, daughter, and several of" the tribe came on 'board. Descending into the cabin, Tamaiharanui met Rauparaha face to face; Te Raid's son drew up the 'Upper lip of Tamaiharanui. and cried, “There are the teeth which ate my father. A massacre ensured and all were slain save Tamaiharanui, his wife, and his daughter, who were kept to grace the victors’ return. Then the warriors landed and slew every native they met. Captain Stewart returned to Kapiti. During the return voyage the flesh of the victims was cooked in the ship s coppers and devoured amidst songs and war dances: The captive chief was bound hand and foot, but his wife was not manacled and managed to strangle her beautiful daughter to save her from the indignities likely to be inflicted upon her by her captors. Enraged at this act, Ratipara'ha sucked ’Tamaiharanui s blood through a flowing vein, thrust a red hot ramrod through his body, and derided him in his extreme agony with bitter jests. The wife was killed at Otaki. About 1830-1 Pukerangiora was taken by the chief Te Whcrowhero. Wearied by repeated assaults and continued watchings, the garrison was at last overpowered and a fearful slaughter ensued. The chief slew 50 of the captives with his own hand. Many were driven over the escarpment. Altogether SCO perished, a few escaped, and the rest were carried away into slavery. An old resident was travelling some years ago with some natives near the sources of the Waiwahaiho, when suddenly his companions commenced a tangi. On enquiring the cause of this, he was informed that a small party' of fugitives from Pukerangiora had taken shelter there but were followed and slain by the Waikatos. A sociable old native named Manga, who has been dead many years, used to tell of his escape from this slaughter. He was wounded in the neck and left for dead. Watching a favourable opportunity ho snatched up a child which the foe had left unharmed, and placing it upon his shoulders he started with all speed along the forest path which led to Cook’s Strait. Not daring in his fear to set the little one down he fed it with berries upon his shoulders, and threw water up to it with the palm of his hand. The victorious Waikatos returned home with their captives and - trophies; the earth drank in the blood of the slain; and when the spring returned the rangiora trees hung out the snow white “leafy banners” as though no blood had ever defiled them.