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Tales of Banks Peninsula

Ngai Tahu Taking Possession

Ngai Tahu Taking Possession.

After the destruction of Parakakariki and the death of Tu te kawa, the various chiefs of Ngai Tabu engaged in page 16Moki's expedition, who had not already secured a landed estate elsewhere for themselves, took immediate steps to acquire some part of the Peninsula. The rule they adopted was that, whoever claimed any place first, should have the right to it, provided he went at once and performed some act of ownership there; and also that he should be entitled to as much land around it as he could traverse before encountering another selector. Te Rangi Whakaputa hastened to secure Te Whakaraupo (Port Cooper); Huikai hurried off to Koukourarata; Mango to Wairewa; Te Rua hikihiki landed at Wainui, and commenced at once to dig a fern root, and prepare it for food; he then passed round the coast, leaving Manaia at Whaka Moana, and others of his party at Waikakahi, taking up his own permanent residence at Taumutu. Tutakakahikura, one of Mrs Tikao's ancestor, leaving his sisters and family at Pohatupa, walked quickly round the coast by the North Head of the Akaroa Harbour, and up the shore as far as far as Taka Matua, and thence round by Parakakariki to starting point. While crossing one of the streams that flow through the present township of Akaroa, he encountered O i nako, a Ngatimamoe chief, and a fugitive from Parakakariki. They engaged in mortal combat, and O i nako was killed, and the stream was ever after known by his name. Te Ake, the ancestor of Big William, landed at the Head of the Bay, and after trying in vain to reach Wainui, owing to the rough nature of the coast, he retraced his steps, and tried to get round the other side of the harbour, but, on reaching the grassy slopes between Duvauchelle and Robinson's Bay, he felt too tired to go any further, and took possession of the point and its surroundings by planting his walking stick in the ground; hence the place obtained the name of Otokotoko (walking stick) Fearing that his boundary towards the south might be disputed, Te Ake begged Te Rangi Taurewa to cross over in his canoe to a headland he pointed out, and here to hold up his white whalebone weapon, while he himself stood at Otokotoko and watched him. His friend did as he was requested, and the headland has ever since page 17been known as the "Peg on which Te Rangi Taurewa's patu parao hung"—soiuh side of French Farm. The beach below the point was called "The shell of Hine Pani," after some Maori lady who found a shell there, which she greatly prized.

Some years after these events took place, another section of Ngai Tahu, under the command of Te Wera, a fiery warrior, destined to play an important part in the history of his tribe in the South, came in search of a new home. They landed at Hikurangi, hut finding that the place was already occupied, they sent to Whaka Moana for Manaia, a chief of a very high distinction, the Upoka ariki, or heir to all the family honours of more than one hapu in the tribe. On his anival, a war dance was held in his honour, and there was much friendly speechifying. Te Wera, after indulging in some rude witticisms on the personal appearance of their "squint eyed lord," extended his right arm, and called upon Manaia to enter. Manaia rose up and passed under his arm, and so peace was confirmed between them; but, to cement their friendship still more firmly, Te Wera gave Irakehu, grand daughter of Te Rangi Whakaputa, to Manaia in marriage, and she became the ancestress of Mr. and Mrs. Tikao, Paurini, and the other chief persons in the Maori community here. Te Wera and his party then sailed away to the South, and established themselves for a time near Waikouaiti, where they were as much dreaded for their ferocity by other sections of their own tribe as by the Ngatimamoo, whom they were trying to exterminate.

For many generations the Maoris on the Peninsula remained in peaceful occupation of their new homes, undisturbed by foreign attacks or internal strife. Occasionally the bolder spirits amongst them would go away to take part in the wars against Ngatimamoe, which were carried on for many years in districts further to the South, or else to take part in some quarrel between different sections of the Ngai Tahu tribe located elsewhere. Among those who went off in search of military honours was a certain heretical teacher named Kiri mahi [unclear: nabina], who left Aka-page 18roa for the seat of war near [unclear: Mœaki], and fell at the battle of Tara ka hina a tea. This tohunga had told Turakautahi the younger that Tiki made man, whilst the fathers had always maintained that it was Io. Te Wera adopted a novel method to prevent the survival of this man's false teaching, through his spirit escaping and getting into some other tohunga. When the battle was over, he made an oven capable of containing the entire body, and then he carefully plugged the mouth, ears and nose, and every other aperture, and having cooked the heretical teacher, he managed, with the assistance of some of his warriors, to eat up every portion of him, and so successfully extinguished the incipient heresy.

The condition of those who remained quietly at home was enjoyable enough, for it is a great mistake to suppose that the old Maori life in peaceful times was one of privation and suffering; on the contrary, it was a very pleasant state of existence. There was a variety and abundance of food, and agreeable and healthy occupation for mind and body. Each season of the year, and each part of the day, had its specially allotted work, both for men and women. The women, besides such household duties as cooking and cleaning their houses, made the clothing and bedding required for their families. They gathered the flax and ti palm fibres used, and prepared and worked them up into a great variety of garments, many of which took several months to complete, and which, when finished, were very beautiful specimens of workmanship. The men gathered in the food and stored it in whatas or store-rooms, which were attached to every dwelling, and built on tall posts to protect the contents from damp and rats. Besides such natural products of the soil as fern root, ti palm stems, and convolvulus roots, they cultivated the kumera, hue, taro and karaka. Fish of various kinds were caught during the proper season, and cured by drying in the sun. Wild pigeons, kakas, paradise ducks, and mutton birds were cooked and preserved in their fat in vessels made out of large kelp leaves, and bound round with totara bark to strengthen them Netting, carving; and the grinding and page 19[unclear: fisting] of stone implements and weapons occupied the old men, and much of the leisure time of the young. They beguiled the long winter evenings by reciting historical traditions and tribal genealogies, by repeating poetry and fairy tales, and by songs, dances and round games. It was only when they fell ill, or were harassed by their enemies, that the Maoris of olden time can with any truth be represented as having been miserable and unhappy.