GRANDMOTHER TO BE

Te Ao Hou, June 1960, Page 17

GRANDMOTHER TO BE The years rolled on and Puhiwahine's two sons married wives of the Parewahawaha sub-tribe of the Rangitikei district, and went to live at Ohinepuhiawe (near Bulls) and at Matahiwi, on the south side of the mouth of the Rangitikei river. The Parewahawaha sub-tribe were originally of the west Taupo district and were partly of the Raukawa and Tuwharetoa tribes. When Te Rauparaha's former allies, the Ati-Awa, turned upon him to oust him and his Ngati Toa people from their portion of the conquered lands at Porirua and Waikanae, he appealed to Ngati Raukawa, his mother's people—amongst others—to come to his aid. Te Whatanui, the Ngati Raukawa high chief and war leader, recruited an army and hastened south to join Te Rauparaha. Among those who came with Te Whatanui were the Ngati Parewahawaha. After the crushing defeat of Te Ati Awa at Te Horo (in the Horowhenua district), and their precipitate retreat to Whanganui-a-Tara (Lower Hutt and Wellington), the Ngati Parewahawaha settled on the south bank of the Rangitikei river near its mouth. The main settlements were at Ohinepuhiawe and Matahiwi. The battle of Te Horo took place in March, 1834. After the marriages of Puhiwahine's sons they settled among the Ngati Parewahawaha at Ohinepuhiawe. This was in the year 1869. In the same year Puhiwahine was among the notable Maori personages who were received by the Duke of Edinburgh, and His Royal Highness presented her with a greenstone brooch. She named the brooch “Te Tiuka Ienepara” (the Duke of Edinburgh). It is a valued family heirloom and is now in the possession of her great-granddaughter, Maata, the wife of Hiri Mariu of Waihi, Lake Taupo. This brooch is mentioned in the next song, which will be recorded in this account presently. Some months after the marriages Puhiwahine learnt that both her daughters-in-law were expectant mothers, and she rejoiced at the news. After a visit to each home to satisfy herself that the news was authentic, she made a forecast that John's child would be a girl and George's would be a son. In the event Puhiwahine proved correct, but George's son was still-born and shortly afterwards the mother died. Maori matrons believe that an expectant mother with a pale complexion is bearing a male child, and that a mother's freckled or blotchy face indicates a female child. Happy in the thought that she was a grandmother to be, Puhiwahine decided she would compose a song. In the time-honoured manner of the race the song in her heart had to be expressed in a lullaby, but Puhiwahine could not wait for the natal hour. And so Puhiwahine's lullaby, as a premature oriori composition, is unique. Thomas Maraku Gotty, grandson of Puhiwahine.