THE KAPITI COAST

Te Ao Hou, September 1967, Page 57

THE KAPITI COAST by W. C. Carkeek A. H. & A. W. Reed, $3.25 This book is another of the steadily growing number of tribal histories written by a member of the tribe—always a bold undertaking for a Maori, but one which we hope to see more frequently. As a Ngati Ruakawa the author is naturally more concerned with the period following the settlement of the Tainui people on the Kapiti coast and the reader will find only a summary of the story of the Rangitane, Muaupoko and Ngati Ira who occupied the district before that time. The complex pattern of migration from Waikato and Taranaki during and after Te Rauparaha's conquest is set out in a straightforward and readable way without the morass of detail which is always a temptation to the recorder of Maori tradition. A great deal of work was done by the author to identify the sites of various settlements and tribal battles and this section of the book, wisely separated from the main story, is a notable contribution to the history of Horowhenua, Waikanae and Kapiti. We could do with more local histories of this kind. It is a tragedy that the author did not long survive the publication of his book. Haere, e tama, haere ki nga tupuna rongonui i heke mai na ki Kapiti ki te kawe tikanga hei ora mo nga uri o muri nei. We add a comment by that indesctructible genealogist, Wiremu Kingi te Aweawe of Rangiotu. The late Mr W. Carkeek, is to be commended for the work and time that he put into his book The Kapiti Coast. From page I to page 10, ‘The People of the Land’—it covers a very exciting period. On page 3, the author correctly says that Buick had erred in calling Naitara, Ngatiara. Half-way down page 3, a reference was made by Adkin, that Hau was a son of Popoto. Actually he was the priest of the Aotea canoe. On page 18, Te Awakautere is Te Aokautere. On page 20, Te Rangihauku should be Te Rangikautaka. Page 22 states that Te Whatanui was defeated in Hawke's Bay by Kahungunu. There was a Raukawa party under Chief Te Momo defeated at Te Rotoatara by Kahununu. Te Ahu Karamu came with his party without Te Whatanui to Kapiti on pages 22 and 23. The migration known as Te Kariritahi. When Te Ahukaramu returned to Ngati Raukawa at Maungatautari, Te Whatanui was there. It was Te Whatanui who led and brought Ngati-Raukawa down to interview Waitohi. This migration was called Te Hekewhirinui, the chosen sub-tribes of Ngati-Raukawa. The main narrator in this book is Matene Te Whiwhi, a wonderful chief in his time and one who was held in very high esteem and affection by veryone. All that has been written by the author of Matene Te Whiwhi's versions is fairly accurate and I have no hesitation whatever in recommending The Kapiti Coast to any of our Maori scholars and people to read.