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Port Molyneux : the story of Maori and pakeha in South Otago : a centennial history : commemorating the landing of George Willsher and his companions at Willsher Bay, June 28, 1840 : with a programme for the unveiling of the centennial cairn, erected by the Clutha County Council, June 28, 1940

Difficulty Of Fixing Ages

Difficulty Of Fixing Ages.

Reckoning 25 years as a generation, this would give us Te Hau, 1750; Hone Kai, 1775; and Tuhawaiki, born 1800.

These dates can never be more than approximate. Before 1800 no Maori knew of dates, and no old Maori could give an exact idea of his age.

A few illustrations will suffice:—

In 1892 Hoani Wetere Korako, in giving evidence before a Parliamentary Committee, when asked, “How old are you? “replied, “I was grown up.”

At the same inquiry Tare Wetere Te Kahu answered the question, “How old were you at the time of the negotiation for the land purchases?” by replying, “I do not know, but I at the time had two children.”

The writer once asked an old Maori about his birthday, “What day was it?” and got the reply, “It was 6 o'clock in the morning!”