An Epitome of Official Documents Relative to Native Affairs and Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand
Disputed Lands
Disputed Lands.
Besides the lands thus held there are large districts on the borders of different tribes which remain uncultivated. These "kainga tautohe," or debatable lands, are a never-failing cause of war till one party has lost its principal men. The remnant then cease to have any political importance, and are reduced to the condition of mere cultivators of the soil, being contempuously styled "toenga-kai," or offal.