CORRESPONDENCE

Te Ao Hou, June 1960, Page 57

CORRESPONDENCE The Editor, Te Ao Hou. Sir,—Your issue of December 1959, No. 29, p.30, reads: “Another ancestor was the whale Pokopoko. He was the youngest of three brothers. The two older ones drove him away from Hokianga Harbour, which used to be their habitat, etc., etc.” Where did you gather this confounded information and who was your informant? Why did you fail in the matter of exercising caution? You have printed rubbish, and your failure to exercise caution in this respect has created in me the impression that any old thing will do as long as it amuses your readers. I strongly oppose this cheap exploitation of an ancestor from which I and many others are proud descendants. Pokopoko-here-here-taniwha (literal translation: pokopoko, name of person; here-here, tie together; taniwha, Maori name for monster beyond human understanding). Pokopoko the conqueror of taniwhas won his name after the battle of the taniwhas which took place at Shelly Beach in the Kaipara Harbour near Helensville. He was the younger son of Haki-puta-tomuri, translated as “the one who appeared last.” His one and only brother was named Whiti-rau-atea: the music of white leaves. Pokopoko conquered all but two of the taniwhas at this battle, and as a memorial to this occasion, and in conjunction with the first so-called Parliament in my district, the people of Ngatiwhatua, encouraged by the unanimous support of the many neighbouring tribes, erected a memorial on the scene. Had it not been for the action of vandals, the memorial would have remained where it was erected, but some of my people moved the historic memorial to a place where it would fare better. This action, though done in loyalty and within the realm of good intention, has lost for the memorial, much of its historical glamour. The two taniwhas which made their escape were overtaken at the entrance to the Hokianga Harbour. A great battle took place and again Pokopoko succeeded by changing his opponents to rocks. Hence the two rocks which stand at the entrance to Hokianga Harbour. Their names are Arai-te-uru and Te Niniwa. The subduing of these two taniwhas, according to the story-tellers, caused the ever-groaning tides of Taiamai (Hokianga), hence the saying “I ngururu ai nga tai o tai-a-mai.” This story is accepted truth and recited by many chiefs of the past days. It is their story which has been handed down to me, that I am privileged to retain. Your whale of Te Ao Hou fame, is one of three which travel together. They never travel separately, even to this day. Very few are privileged to see them; one reason being that many of us have left the seaside to pursue other interests, and as they appear only when a chief of high rank is on the borderline between mortality and immortality, their visits have become very rare. The rarity of the visits of these monsters is not due to the advent of the Ratana movement (because Ratana was not able to do anything about their extermination), but because of the simple fact that there are no chiefs left. They might appear, of course, when the writer makes his exit. So keep a watch, and you will have something to write about. The three whales are the acknowledged “Mana” of the Te-Uri-o-Hau tribe. My grandfather, Pita Whaka-pae-ngarara, alias Peter Kena, was their acknowledged chief. One, though named, is not connected with the hero, except in Mana, and neither is there any link between hero, whales and your Te Ao Hou story. Pokopoko-here-here-taniwha died of natural causes and by his own wish, was given sea-burial at the entrance of Kaipara Harbour. Thus, when the Kaipara Harbour becomes very rough and sea-farers are bar-bound, our people would say: “The wrath of Pokopoko is kindled.” When it is calm and smooth, they would say: “Pokopoko is happy.” We, the Maori people, are a proud race. We love to preserve our genealogy and all that is good about our traditions and customs. We cherish a descent from a hero ancestor. One who was the hero of successful conquests whether they won through fair means or foul, it mattered little. Their employment of wit or might to crown a success are cherished endearments and are counted good for the soul. If any should dare to storm the palisade of their peaceful paradise with the wrong pass-word, “look out!” So get your facts correct and avoid trouble. APERAHAMA B. KENA, The Parsonage, Otaki. Note. While the informant is a person of reasonable knowledge, we recognise that she did not give us the whole story. When Te Ao Hou publishes a version of ancient Maori history, it is always realised that there will be other, often very valuable versions it has been impossible to obtain. It is therefore good to see, writers coming forward to complete or dispute the information we have given so that we may get the whole of the truth in the end. Editor, Te Ao Hou.