Tales of Banks Peninsula
Tu Te Kawa
Tu Te Kawa.
The feud between the chief Tu te kawa and the ruling family of Ngai Tahu was caused by his having put Tuahurin's wives to death at Te mata ki kai-poika, a pa on the south-east coast of the North Island. Tuahuriri had from some cause incurred the ill will of a powerful member of his own tribe, the renowned warrior Hika-oro-roa. That chief assembled his relations and dependents, amongst whom was Tu te kawa, and led them to attack Tuahuriri's pa. When they were approaching the pa at dawn of day, and just as the leader was preparing to take the foremost part in the assault, a youth named Turuki, eager to distinguish himself, rushed past Hika-oro-roa, who uttered an exclamation of surprise and indignation at his presumption, asked in sneering tones "how a nameless warrior could dare to try and snatch the credit of a victory he had done nothing to win." Turuki, burning with shame at the taunt, rushed back to the rear, and addressed himself to Tu te kawa, who was the head of his family, and besought him to withdraw his contingent and proceed at once to attack the pa from the opposite side, and thus secure the page 8victory for himself, and for ever prevent such a reproach from again being uttered agaiast any one of his family. Tu te kawa, who resented keenly the insult offered to his young relative, instantly adopted his suggestion, and so rapidly did he effect the movement, that his absence was not discovered till he had successfully assaulted the pa, and his name was being shouted forth as victor. A few moments before the assault took place, Tu te kawa said to his nephew, "Go quickly and rouse Tuauriri." The young warrior ran forward, and on reaching the pa, called out, "O Tu." "What is it?" he asked. "Come forth." "Wait till I fasten on my waist belt." "Wait for nothing, escape they are close here!" "Where?" "Just behind my back," Without stopping to put on a garment or to pick up his weapons, Tuahuriri rushed out of his house, climbed over the wall, and ran for his life to the shelter of a neighbouring wood. Tu te kawa was the first to enter the pa, and at once made his way to Tuahuriri's house, where he found his two wives, Hina kai taki and Tuara whati. These women were persons of great distinction, being related to all of the principal families in that part of the country, and their lives ought to have been quite safe in the hands of their husband's relatives. But Tu te kawa turned a deaf ear to their appeal for protection, and killed them both. Though accused of killing these women unnecessarily, it is very probable that he may have put them to death to save the family honour, as it was no disgrace to die by the hands of a near kinsman, and he had good reason to suspect that Hika-oro roa, having lost the credit of the victory, and having failed to secure the husband, would take his revenge on the wives. Tu te kawa might have argued, if they must die, it was better he should kill them.
When the war party were re embarking in their canoes, a few hours later, Tuahuriri came out to the edge of the forest, and called to Tu te kawa, and asked him whether he bad got his waist cloth, belt and weapons. On being answered in the [unclear: affirmative], he begged they might be returned to him. Tu te kawa stood up in his canoe and flung page 9them towards him, telling him at the same time what had happened to his wives. After picking up his weapons, Tuahuriri turned towards his cousin, whom he wished to reward for having saved his life, ard called out, "O Tu, keep out to sea, or keep in shore, rather keep in shore." This was a friendly intimation intended to save Tu te kawa from the destruction about to fall upon his companions in arms, for no sooner were the canoes under weigh than Tuahuriri retired into the depths of the forest, and there invoked the help of his atuas to enable him to take vengeance on his enemies, and by their agencies he raised the furious wind known as Te hau o rongo mai. This tempest dispersed Hika-oro-roa's fleet, and most of his canoes were upset and the crews drowned in the stormy waters of Raukawa (Cook Straits) Tu te kawa, forewarned, had hugged the coast, and so escaped destruction. After crossing the straits he landed on the South Island, where he decided to remain, and so escape the inevitable consequences of the attack on Tuahuriri's pa. He had nothing to fear from the Ngatimamoe, to whom he was related on his mother's side; and further, he knew that his presence amongst them would be welcomed, because he was willing to employ the armed force that accompanied him against the remnant of Waitahi, who continued to maintain their independence. Passing down the coast, Tu te kawa took up his residence at Okohana (Church Bush), near Kaiapoi, where eels were plentiful. He employed the few Waitahi whom he spared from destruction to work the eel fishery there for him. Hearing after a time that the eels of Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) were of a better quality he removed to the shores of that lake, and built a pa Waikakahi (Wascoe's), while his son Te Rangitamau built another at Taumutu. Surrounded by his allies, and at such distance from his enemies, Tu te kawa felt quite secure. But after the lapse of many years, and when he had grown old and feeble, his followers grew alarmed for his safety, owing to the rapid advance southwards of the Ngai Tahu. They urged the old chief to escape while the opportunity of doing so remained, but all their entreaties were in vain; his only page 10reply was, "What will then become of the basket of flat fish spread open here?" (in allusion to the lake).
They soon had ample evidence that their fears were well grounded, for the war canoe Te Maka whiu, manned by the choicest warriors of Ngai Tahu, and commanded by the experienced leader Moki, was rapidly approaching his retreat, with the avowed intention of avenging Tuahuriri's wives. When the expedition arrived at Koukourarata, a Council of war was held, to decide whether to approach Waikakahi by land or by sea. Some advised an immediate advance on the place overland. This was opposed by Moki, who said he had been warned that Tu te kawa was sitting like a wood pigeon on a bough, facing his foes, and that if they approached him from the direction he faced, he would take flight before they could catch him. After much discussion, it was decided to go by sea. The warriors accordingly re-embarked, and pulled southwards. As they approached Okain's Bay, Moki observed the groves of karaka trees growing near the shore, and wishing to become the possessor of them, he whispered the following directions in his attendant slave's ear:—"When I order the canoe to be beached, take care to be the first to reach the shore, and at once cry out aloud, 'My land, O Karaka!'" The slave prepared to carry out his master's instructions, and, as the canoe neared shallow water, he jumped overboard, and tried to wade ashore in advance of anyone else. But he was forestalled by Mahi ao tea, one of the crew, who, suspecting Moki's design, sprang from the bows of the canoe to the beach, shouting aloud, "My pa, Karaka! my bay, Kawatea!" Encouraged by the success of the attempt to secure an estate for himself, this young man, who was only a chief of the secondary rank, resolved to proceed overland to the destination of Te Maka whiu. Accompanied by a few followers, he made his way from Okain's Bay to Gough's Bay. In the forests he encountered Te aitanga a Hine mate roa, a wild race (thought to be enchanted black pine trees), whom he overcame and destroyed; and between Poutakaro and Otu tahu ao he fell in with Te ti a Tau [unclear: whste] ku, enchanted cabbage page 11trees, that moved about and embraced each other like human beings. Be also came across Te papa tu a Mauheke, an enchanted broadleaf tree. After a very adventurous a arch, Mahi ao tea rejoined the expedition at Karuru (Gough's Bay), where he found the canoe already drawn up on the land, and preparations being made for the advance on Parakakariki. He learnt that after his departure from Okain's the expedition had moved on to Otutahuao (Hickory), where they encamped. There an incident occurred which had caused considerable amusement. One of the leading chiefs had prenented a basket of dried barracouta for distribution among the crew. Those whose place was nearest the stern got the first helping, and by the time the basket reached those who occupied the bows only a few fine fragments remained. These were handed to a conceited, chief named Whakuku, a sort of a captain of the forecastle, who, on seeing what had fallen to his share, said to his companions, "Hold tight, hold tight to the fish dust! "(meaning that when his men fell in with Ngatimamoe, they should take care to secure for themselves something better than the leavings of the persons of higher rank). He dubbtd the cave where they took their meal. "The cave of fish dust eating," to commemorate his having been fed with the dust of Hikatutu's fish basket
While the plan of attack was under discussion, Moki, the commander in chief, suddenly called out to Turangipo, a noted veteran, famed for deeds of valour performed on many a battle field in the North Island. Turangipo asked what Moki wanted. "You may eat," he replied, "the head of your Lady Paramount." Turangipo remained silent for some time, pondering over what was meant by this strange speech. He felt convinced that Moki was employing some spell to paralyse his energies, and rob him of any chance of gaining distinction in the coming encounter with Ngatimamoe. He conjectured that Moki, annoyed at the failure of the attempt to secure for himself the karaka groves at Okain's Bay, was now bent on making sure of better success at Parakakariki, and that, in order to gain his end, he was endeavouring to cast a page 12spell over the man most likely to defeat His purpose. Turangipo was, however, equal to the occasion, and, having exhausted every means he could think of to break the spell and naturalise its ill effects, he resolved to try its potency on Moki himself. "Moki," he cried. "What?" replied he. "You may eat the head of your Lady Paramount." Moki made no reply, and, from the course of subsequent events, it became evident that he neglected to employ any precautions to naturalise the spell. While these two chiefs were exchanging these questionable civilities, the bulk of the warriors were wondering what their object could be in bandying such shocking expressions, for sush allusions to the sacred head of a person of rank were regarded as blasphemous. Their speculations were interrupted by Moki suddenly calling out. "Who is for us?" (meaning who will act as scout). Whakuku instantly replied, "I am; i will act as scout." "How will you proceed?" "I will get above the pa, and, if you hear my voice sounding from high up the hill, then you will know that the pa is guarded; if my voice sounds low down, the pa is not guarded." Whakuku then proceeded at once to reconnoitre He was followed by the main body, who, as they approached the cliffs to the north of Fisherman's Bay, saw several canoes anchored off the coast opposite the mouth of Long Bay. Moki, wishing to know whether the presence of his force on the coast had been observed by Ngatimamoe, fastened his white whale-bone weapon to his foot, and dangled it over the brink of the cliff; but the fishers failed to take any notice of it, and Moki accordingly concluded that they were unconscious of the approach of enemies, and resolved to continue his march without waiting to conceal his movements under the cover of darkness. He proceeded till he reached the woods on the south side of Long Bay There the final disposition of the force for the meditated attack on the pa was completed; and, having found a suitable place of concealment, the men waited impatiently for the promised signals of their scout. Whakuku did not keep them long in suspense, for he soon succeeded in reaching page 13a position overlooking the pa, where he at once commenced to imitate tha cry of a wood hen, ko ee, ko ee, ko ee. The women of the pa listened, and said one to another, "Hark! what bird is that? Surely it is a female weka that is crying in the wood above us." He then climbed to a point still higher above the pa, where he commenced to cry tee-wake, tee-wake, tee-wake. The women paid again, "Hark! Surely that is the cry of a male [unclear: weka]." He then descended, and concealed himself in a shallow cave close to the pa. His companions, on hearing his signals, interpreted them to mean that, although there were many women in the pa, they were not altogether unprotected So the order was passed along the line to delay the assault till dawn. The warriors with difficulty restrained their impatience, and as soon as the first rosy tints appeared in the eastern sky, they rushed out from their place of concealment, and took the pa by storm. Moki, who wished to secure the coveted distinction awarded to the warrior who killed the first foeman in battle, took care to occupy the foremost place. As he rushed forward, he encountered what he imagined, in the dim light, to be two of the enemy. He struck a furious blow with his taiaha, first at one and then at the other, shouting out at the same time, "By my hand has fallen the first foeman," But, to his extreme mortification, he discovered that, instead of men, he had only aimed mortal blows at two upright blocks of stone that came in his way, and which were ever afterwards known as "Moki's pair," His failure on this occasion was attributed to his having omitted to remove the spell which he provoked Turangipo to cast upon him. That warrior having discovered the mistake Moki had made, rushed past him, and, having entered the pa, secured two women, Te maeke and Ta whera, as his prisoners. Te ao tu tahi, the principal chief of the pa, was killed by Mahi ao tea. His son Uruhanga made an attempt to escape by a path along the cliffs, but, being observed, was pursued. His superior knowledge of the dangerous footway might have enabled him to get off safely, but for Whakuku, who, concealed in page 14a cave above him, was intently watching his approach; and, the moment he came within reach, Whakuku plunged his spear into his shoulder, and hurled him down the cliff in the direction of his pursuer, cilling out at the same time, "Your man," "No," replied the other, "yours," "No," said Whakuku, "you may have him, but do not conceal my name." After the fall of Parakakariki, Moki returned to Koukourarata, carrying his prisoners with him. Having drawn up his canoe, and placed a guard over the prisoners, he advanced by a forced march over the hills to Waikakahi.