History and traditions of the Maoris of the West Coast, North Island of New Zealand, prior to 1840
Kapara-Te-Hau. — 1835
Kapara-Te-Hau.
1835.
The date of the above event is difficult to fix exactly, but in all probability it was before the exodus to the Chatham Islands; old Paori Taki says it occurred at the end of January or beginning of February. It will be within the recollection of my readers that Te Rau-paraha had inflicted terrible punishments on the southern tribo Ngai-Tahu at Kai-koura, Omihi, Kai-apohia, Port Cooper, and Onawe at Akaroa, thereby naturally incurring the bitter animosity of that great tribe or tribes; which, as the visits of European traders became more frequent to the south of the South Island, were gradually acquiring arms and ammunition, and thereby placing themselves in a position to take the first opportunity of wiping out some of the defeats they had suffered. But over and above the general animosity prevailing against Ngati-Toa an incident occurred just at this time which accentuated this feeling, and when the time came, as it shortly did, Ngai-Tahu sprang to arms to avenge their wrongs. Just about this time a Ngai-Tahu man of some importance named Tu-mataueka (a great-uncle of T. Parata, M.P.) visited Kapiti in a whaleship, and whilst there was so seduced by the charms of the Ngati-Toa women that he swam ashore from the ship, where the local people, urged by the barbarism that then prevailed, killed him in cold blood. This was a murder, even according to Maori ideas, and demanded revenge at the earliest opportunity.
* As quoted in A.H.M., Vol. VI., p. 120.
* Now the site of Blenheim.
† Not to be confounded with Te Puoho, as Mr. Travers has often done.
‡ Probably the Ngati-Toa sub-tribe, the full name of which is Ngati-Haumia-whakatere taniwha, so called to distinguish it from Ngati-Haumia of Ati-Awa.
The principal chief of Ngai-Tahu engaged in this affair was Iwi-kau, and the others were: Karaki (or Nga-rangi), father of Matiaha; Te Rangi-a-moa, Noho-mutu, Te Ngaro-whakatomo, Kuau (father of Harutu), Kahu-tua-nui, Katata (Ngatata), Tu-auau, Tangata-hara, Tama-nui-a-rangi (father of Paratene), Kai-nawe, Tu-te-hou-nuku, and Hara-nui. The principal persons of Ngati-Toa killed were: Te Ara-hore, Te Tuki (killed by Tu-te-hou-nuku), Te Rangi-angaanga-nui (killed by Hui-te-ketekete), and Rangi-tara-whanga (wife of Te Tipi)."
Tāre Wetere Te Kahu also refers to the above incident in his paper published in Journal Polynesian Society, Vol. X., p. 98, which is practically a repetition of that of old Paora Taki's given above. But the former adds the names of the Ngai-Tahu hapus engaged, as follows:—Ngati-Kuri of Te Rua-hikihiki, Ngati-Moki, Ngati-Pahi, and Ngati-Tuāhu-riri; and gives the following names of chiefs not mentioned by Paora:—Tu-hawaiki, Paitu, Makere, Haere-roa, Karetai, Paora Te Koea, and Tirā-kapiti. No doubt these were the chiefs of the most southerly contingent, and consequently most interested in securing utu for the death of Tu-mataueka, killed by Ngati-Toa at Kapiti—see ante.