MOHI TUREI PERSECUTED

Te Ao Hou, Spring 1953, Page 11

MOHI TUREI PERSECUTED The disloyal subtribes of the Ngati-Porou were not punished but were freely pardoned by Mokena Kohere. In spite of their good fortune, the Ngaitane subtribe, in 1872, while Mokena Kohere was at Wellington, attending to his Parliamentary duties, burnt down Mohi Turei's house at Te Rapa on Hahau block. Fortunately Mohi and his family suffered no harm. A Maori committee inquired into the trouble, and found that the incendiaries had no excuse whatever for their malicious deed. After being molested in Hahau, Mohi Turei shifted his family to the old home at Waikoriri, on Kautaku block, where he put up a comfortable home. After the death of his first wife, Mohi married Kararaina Morimete, who bore him one daughter, Ngarangi (Mrs H. M. Kohere), and four sons, Paraone, Paaka, Teki and Peta. Of the five only one, Teki, survives. For many years Mohi Turei lived happily at Waikoriri until one day, without warning, Wi Tupaea and some women—practically the same people who burnt down his house at Hahau—attacked Mohi Turei. They cut down his fences and generally behaved in a troublesome manner. To their old, fanatic Hauhauism was added religious fervour, for at the time Mormornism had split the Anglican community. The Ngati-Hokopu were ready to fight, but Mohi, true to his profession, intervened by deciding to shift his family to Hatepe, Mokena Kohere's old strong-hold. A Maori committee under the chairmanship of the Wairoa chief, Raniera Turoa, inquired into the trouble in 1889. Mohi Turei and the Ngati-Hokopu claimed Waikoriri as part of the land of Mataura. The chief Anaru Kohaki, a staunch Mormon, led the opposition. He claimed the land as belonging to Hiihi although he (Kahaki) was not a descendant of Hiihi's. His services were purely gratuitous. He fully admitted Mohi Turei's long occupation of the land, and also that of the forbears of Ngati-Hokopu. He contended, however, that the occupation was without right. The committee accepted Anaru Kahaki's word, so Mohi lost his home. Those who cut down Mohi's fences did not put up a case. Their services were also gratuitous. In 1913, the Kautuku case came before Judge R. N. Jones and the same thing happened, and Mohi Turei failed to recover his home and cemetery. Last year Parliament was petitioned to have the case re-opened.