THE HEAD OF KARU

Tu Tangata, Issue 30, 1 July 1986, Page 39

THE HEAD OF KARU

Told by Joseph Tutaki to A. Taylor - Te Hape Pa, King Country, 1969

THERE were three brothers of Mangapehi Pa: Tumai, Waka and Karu. One day Tumai and Waka were overheard, by Karu, criticising a certain person. That person was Karu. His brothers said he was lazy. Angry and ashamed, Karu went into the forest and speared many birds kereru, tui, huia and even ruru. He then caught many eels. After he had filled the village storehouse, he was exhausted; he was dying. As he lay waiting for death, Karu called for his elder brothers who were out hunting. When Tumai and Waka returned to the village, they asked Karu why he worked so hard. And Karu answered: ‘I heard you saying that I was lazy. It is not so. If I have not worked as hard as you, it is because I have been sick’. Karu then told his two brothers to cut off his head when he died. It was to be

then put in a cave in the Rangitoto Ranges. Later, it was then to be put in a four gallon drum, and almost filled with water from a sacred pool. Then Karu said: “When the left side of my face turns yellow, it will be good hunting on land. When it is black on the right side, it will be good hunting on water.” Karu’s head was used by hunters of Mangapehi Pa for many years. Then it was brought down from the cave in the Rangitoto Ranges, and arguments arose over who owned it. Because of the arguments, the head was hidden away by an old woman, and not used again. That old woman was my great grandmother. Heoi ano ka mutu. NOTE: Tutaki was about 70-years-old when he told the story of Karu. He was an elder of Ngati Maniapoto tribe.