Turanga-Te-Haka.

The first of these incursions, I have no means of getting the date of, but it was many generations ago. A very large party of Ngati-Ruanui came through the forests by the Whakaahu-rangi track (by Stratford) ostensibly on a visit to Ati-Awa, living then at Tikorangi, on the north bank of Waitara, but really with hostile intentions; which, however, were seen through by the Ati-Awa. The local people, to put Ngati-Ruanui off their guard, received them in the usual hospitable manner by giving them a feast, and in the evening the young people got up some hakas to amuse the guests. In the meantime the hosts had sent round to the neighbouring pas warning the tribe to assemble. The hakas were danced merely to pass away the time until the forces could arrive. As Ngati-Ruanui all sat round in a body looking on at the dances, the Ati-Awa forces arrived, and, by arrangement, gathered in a hollow below the settlement—which was afterwards called Turanga-te-hoka. When the time came the signal was given, and then Ati-Awa fell suddenly on the Ngati-Ruanui people, who were unprepared, and a great slaughter took place, in which—says my informant—some three thousand men were killed. This, no doubt, is an exaggeration; but very few of Ngati-Ruanui escaped back to their homes.