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Nelson Historical Society Journal, Volume 06, Issue 01, 1996

Kehu — (Hone Mokehakeha, A.K.A. Hone Mokekehu)

Kehu
(Hone Mokehakeha, A.K.A. Hone Mokekehu)

He rangatira tino mohio i nga takiwa o Te Tau Ihu me Te Tai Poutini hoki, He tohunga tino mohio i nga mahi tururu o tana tipuna.

While it is difficult to be exact about some of the dates we believe that the following chronology is a reasonably accurate record of the sequence of some of the main events in the life of Hone Mokehakeha, better known as Kehu.

1798 AD:

Birth. Father: Tamane, of Ngati Tumatakokiri Mother: Matanolunohi, of Ngati Apa, Ngati Mamoe, Ngai Tahu Ngati Tumatakokiri.

1800–1810:

Childhood: frequent traveller around the outposts of N. Tumatakokiri, from Te Tai Tapu and Mohua (Golden Bay) to Whangarae (Croisilles) and south to Rotoiti, Maruia, Mawhera (Greymouth), Kawatiri (Buller) and the inland trails and mahinga kai (food baskets).

1809/1810:

Kehu's father, Tamane, killed at the battle 'Kotukuwhakaoho' in the Mawhera valley by Ngai Tahu warrior named Tau; Kehu captured and enslaved by Poutini Ngaitahu.

1810-:

N. Tumatakokiri defeated throughout their previous large domain and virtually annihilated as an iwi of manawhenua (dominion over lands).

1809–1827:

Kehu in bondage to Ngai Tahu; continued seasonal, itinerant lifestyle in Te Tai Poutini, to and from the coastal and inland resources of those districts.

1828/1829:

Moved to Motueka with Panakenake and Porta and employed by them in strengthening their hold on that district through battles to subdue refugee remnants of Ngati Apa and other iwi in inland districts, and ground-breaking for new cultivations. Rarua and other conquering tribes become suppliers of produce to whaling communities of the Marlborough Sounds.

page 19

1829/1830:

Tainui and Taranaki tribes conquer West Coast, led by Niho Te Hamu of N. Rama and Takerei Te Whareaitu of N. Tama, Kehu taken as spoil of war and now bonded to the N. Rarua chiefs, Aperahama Panakenake and Poria.

Mid-late 1830s:

Kehu possibly at one or more of the whaling stations at Tory Channel or Port Underwood.

Late 1830s:

Became a Wesleyan Christian, possibly while at Marlborough Sounds.

1841:

New Zealand Company established Nelson settlement.

1841–1843:

Assistant to Thomas Brunner, Surveyor for NZ Company of Motueka and inland river valleys.

1845:

Spent time with other Maori in Rotoiti and Rotoroa districts building shelters, huts and a canoe, and established eeling stations and gardens, in anticipation of a possible re-location by them to this area. Mother, uncle, half-brother and other whanaunga baptised by Wesleyan, Rev Aldred.

Feb-Mar 1846:

Guided Brunner, Heaphy and Fox on journey of exploration from Nelson through Rotoiti and Rotoroa districts and beyond to Matakitaki (Murchison).

Apr-Aug 1846:

Guided Brunner and Heaphy to Arahura, Westland, via Aorere (Collingwood), Te Tai Tapu, Kawatiri and Mawhera, and returned to Nelson by same route, Party assisted by Tau, killer of Kehu's father.

Dec 1846 – June 1848:

Guided Brunner through Rotoiti district en route to Buller Gorge and on to its mouth and south to Taramakau; returned to Nelson via the Mawhera (Grey) and Inangahua Valleys. Assisted by Pikiwati and their wives, also of N. Tumatakokiri. This was the most arduous of the overland journeys of colonial exploration ever undertaken in this country; 19 months of utmost hardship and privation.

Late 1848:

Guided Brunner and Campbell over Bryant Range to Upper Pelorus down to Wakamarina. Built them a mokihi (flax flower raft) for an exciting ride down the Pelorus River in high flood, to Havelock. Tramped through Kaituna Valley to Wairau River mouth; returned to Nelson by sea.

Post 1850:

Uncertain. May have moved to live at Matakitaki but probably returned to Motueka where he was granted life tenure of six acres of land by his masters. Panakenake and Poria of Ngati Rarua.

Date of death and place of burial unknown.

E Kehu, he rangatira tino mohio koe i waenganui i te ao tawhito me te ao hou. Haere e Kehu, Haere, Haere.