HISTORICAL NOTES

Te Ao Hou, September 1964, Page 27

HISTORICAL NOTES The text of ‘E Pa To Hau’ is published with a translation on Page 23, appearing there under the title, ‘A Lament for Te Wano’. The historical notes given here have been taken by the editor of ‘Te Ao Hou’ from ‘Nga Moteatea’ part one (page 237), where a more detailed account by Pei Te Hurinui is to be found. The author of ‘E Pa To Hau’ was probably Rangiamoa of Ngati Apakura, one of the principal tribes of Waikato. Te Wano, a cousin of Rangiamoa, was also of Ngati Apakura. Ngati Apakura used to live at Rangiaowhia (near Te Awamutu), at Ohaupo, and in the district extending to the Waipa River in the direction of Pirongia. But after the Battle of Orakau in the Waikato War in 1864, Ngati Apakura were thrust out of their homes by the British troops despite the fact that they had not been armed and took no part in the war. Later their lands were confiscated. A description of the prosperous and happy way of life of Ngati Apakura in the ‘golden age’ before the war—the great groves of peach, apple, cherry and almond trees, the fields of wheat, maize, potatoes and kumaras, the mills which produced flour for the Auckland market—appears in James Cowan's book, ‘The Old Frontier’. When they were forced by the soldiers to abandon their homes, a section of Ngati Apakura travelled toward Taupo. At Tirau (its full name is Titiraupenga), Te Wano asked his people to climb with him to the top of the hill so that he could gaze once more upon his former home. Te Wano died on this hill at Tirau, and was buried there. Ngati Apakura travelled on to Taupo, settling at Waihi and Tokaanu on the southern shores of the lake. There they were afflicted with a disease, and most of them died. In lamenting the death of her cousin Te Wano, Rangiamoa was mourning the fate of all her people. The first verse of this song, which is the one most often sung, has been attributed by some to Te Kooti Rikirangi.

Wairangi Haka: (I) as recorded by Marata Te Tomo. (II) as recorded on Folkways FE4433.