MAORI HISTORY ON BANKS PENINSULA DATES BACK TO 1500.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18646, 27 December 1928, Page 9

MAORI HISTORY ON BANKS PENINSULA DATES BACK TO 1500.

FIERCE FEUDS BROKE ARCADIAN EXISTENCE

Banks Penfnsuia was occupied by the Maoris about 1500 A.D., the first tribe taking possession being the Waitaha tribe, who came to New Zealand from Hawailci in the canoe Arawa. They probably drove out the Morioris; but there is not space to go into this question. The Waitaha tribe multiplied exceedingly on the Peninsula, and then were conquered by the Ngatimamoe tribe, who were in turn despoiled by the Ngai Tahus about 200 years ago, and this tribe remained the dominant one up to the time of the arrival of the white people. The Ngatimamoe were driven south and the two tribes lived in relations more or less friendly, varied by quarrels and raids which were always occurring between the Maori tribes. Life was pleasant enough among the Ngai Tahu tribe, where time was taken up in the preparing and storing of food, making mats and clothing, reciting tales of past glories of the tribe, marriage, the rearing of children, and all the other occupations which go to making up the sum total called life.

Many people make the error of thinking the Maori was always fighting and eating his enemy. It is true that adventurous spirits sought diversion in raids upon other tribes, and often returned victorious with much spoil; but these raids did not interfere with the peaceful occupations of the rest of the tribe. It would be as absurd to state that because Drake and his fellow-ad-venturers sought quarrel on the high seas with the Spanish that all England spent its time fighting the Spaniard. Clothed with dense forests, in which black and white pines predominated, the supper hills were little explored by the Maoris, who were frightened to go off the beaten tracks. There were many tales of fierce atuas who dwelt in these sections of impenetrable bush, and the wise Maori kept out of their way. The bush was alive with birds, pigeons, caw-caw, wekas, tuis, makos, saddle-backs, paradise duck, wild duck and other varieties now extinct. The early white pioneers give wonderful accounts of the bird life which is now nearly extinct. The pigeon and caw-caw make excellent eating and proved invaluable to the early settlers, who often had to live

on them for months at a time. The Maoris used to capture wekas, pigeons, caw-caws, paradise and wild ducks in large numbers, and preserve them in fat for use in the winter. They also cultivated kumeras (sweet potatoes) and lived on fern root, flax-tree bark and karaka berries.

The Kai Huanga Feud. Apparently the Ngai Tahu tribe entered upon its most exciting time some years before the white people arrived. After years of comparative peace a terrible feud broke out, called the Kai Iluanga (eat relation), which speaks for itself. The whole trouble arose through the wife of a minor chieftain wearing a dogskin mat of Te Mai Hara Nui, the Upoko Arilci, or Head Chieftain of the tribe. Everything the ariki wore was held sacred, and this act of Muritaha, wife of Potahi, was looked upon as a terrible sacrilege. Some of Te Mai Ilara Nui’s relatives avenged the insult, not by killing Muritaha, but by killing a poor servant woman in the family. Her death was avenged by her masters, and so it went on, brother’s hand being raised to kill brother, and some frightfully cruel deeds being perpetrated. It is not unlikely that the feud owed a great deal of its bitterness to the fact that the Upoko Ariki of the tribe Te Mai Hara Nui was of a very cruel, vindictive character, an unusual circumstance with the great Maori arikis. This man was feared by the whole tribe, and his visits dreaded, as all the food and stores upon which his shadow rested were tapu and he himself was of a very avaricious character. In those days a pass had been found to the West Coast, and thence were brought large quantities of greenstone, to be sold for mats and potted mutton birds to the Maoris in the North and South. Te Mai Hara Nui was a good business man and himself superintended the culture of flax bushes, and no doubt he was acquiring to himself the greater portion of the wealth of the tribe.

Murder of Te Pehi. In addition to the shameful Kai Huanga feud, Te Mai Hara Nui was destined to figure in the supreme tragedy which befel his tribe. Te Pehi, a great Northern chief and a cousin of Te Rauparaha, paid a visit to Kaiapoi, where dwelt a section of the Ngai Tahus, and there was killed by a chieftain, Tangata Ta Hara, during a fight in which the Northern Maoris were overpowered by the Southerners. The cause of this massacre of Te Pehi and his followers will always remain a mystery. There are a number of versions given, the most probable one being that the Kaiapoi Maoris, distrusting Te Pehi and his men, got in the first blow. Te Pehi had travelled to England, and was the pride of his tribe. His cousin, Te Hauparaha, determined to avenge his death fitly, and in- his stronghold at Kapiti Island, thought out a scheme whereby his purpose could be served. His vengeance was obtained in a manner reflecting little credit upon the pakeha, for he was able to bribe Captain Stewart, of the brig Elizabeth, by promise of a cargo of flax to take him and his warriors to Akaroa Harbour for the purpose of kidnapping Te Mai Hara Nui. Captain Stewart anchored off Wainui and sent messages for Te Mai Hara Nui, only to find he was away at Little River superintending the dispatch of a cargo of flax. He had to wait eight days before Te Mai Hara Nui returned and came on board the boat, accompanied by his wife, Te Oka, and his daughter, Nga Roi Mata. He was immediately taken down below and Te Rauparaha and his warriors seized him. Te Rauparaha also captured and killed all the chiefs at Takapuneke, where Te Mai Hara Nui lived, over one hundred persons being killed. Te Mai Ilara Nui was carried up to Kapiti, where he was tied to a Kahikatea (white pine) log and pulled up by a chain and dropped till death supervened, besides being subjected to other hideous tortures. On the way up to Kapiti he managed to kill his daughter, Nga Moi Rata (appropriately called “The Tears”). It may be wondered why Te Rauparaha did not seek out Te Pehi’s murderer, Tangata Ta Ilara, but that was not the Maori’s way. His noble cousin being killed by a member of the Ngai Tahu tribe, nothing but the death of the great Ariki of that tribe would be sufficient atonement.

The Onawe Massacre. Unfortunately Te Rauparaha was not satisfied with this fearful act of vengeance, but continued to make continual raids on the Ngai Tahu tribe, until becoming converted to Christianity, he forsook pillage and murder. It on the Onawe Peninsula, near Duvauchelle, that the Ngai Tahu tribe made the greatest stand against Te Rauparaha, and here can be still seen traces of the earth ramparts used which are considered by some authorities to’have been designed by European assistance. Te Rauparaha landed near where the old Shadbolt homestead was built (now occupied by Mr 3'. Wakelin), and thence he set out with his

warriors in their canoes and surrounded the peninsula from the sea side. Treachery from within also helped the Northern warrior, and soon the Ngai Tahus were driven to fly for their lives, many being killed, captured and eaten! The cannibalism of the Maori is always a matter of surprise to those who realise what a fine race they were. The lack of carnivorous food was the chief cause of this repugnant act, which was apparently only practised in warfare. While stressing the evil qualities of Te Mai Hara Nui, it is necessary to bear to mind that they were unusual in the great Arikis, and must be commented upon in this leader of the Ngai Tahu tribe, as he was destined to be the hero of some of the most remarkable happenings of the Ngai Tahxi tribe.