Ngapuhihistory-pg24

The Conquest of the Ngare-Raumati
By Leslie G. Kelly

      During September, 1937, while visiting Moturoa Island, Bay of Islands, I had the good fortune to receive from my old friend Kiritapu and her son-in-law, Hamiora Maioha, some information relative to the occupation of the southern portion of the bay of Nga-puhi. In common with most maori accounts, their story of the warfare started abruptly and left much to be assumed in regard to the actual causes and also as to what hostilities took place prior to the final invasion. In answer to several questions Kiritapu revealed that the original home of the Ngapuhi people was Hokiamnga, and that throught the centuries they had gradually spread eastward until at the time of history they has occupuied the country as far as Paihia, Waitangi, and Kerikeri, as well as other places on the western shores of the Bay of Islands.
        The country to the east, that is, from Tapeka and along the sourthern shore toward Cape Brett and still in the hands of Ngare-raumati, a people thought by Kiritapu to be of tangata-whenua stock, although she admitted that she knew very little about them except that they were descended from an ancestor named Huruhuru. In explaining her lack of knowledge regarding the fate of Marion Du Fresne, Kiritapu pointed out Ngapuhi had not taken possession of that part of the bay at the time; the attack on the French had been committed by the Ngare-raumati, from which we know that they were still in occupation of the ancestral lands in 1722.
       The warfare probably took place some time between 1780 and 1790, although it is quite likely that some of the events occurred later, for it wil be noted that muskets were used toward the end, Again both Maanu and Kaiteke who figured largely in the warfare, ewre still alive and took part in the Waitangi treaty meeting in 1840. The account, as related to me by Kiritapu and Hamiora Maioha, is as following:

      "A war-party of Ngapuhi, led by Te Hotete ans his son Meka, invaded the Aupouri country as Muriwhenua (North Cape district) and made camp at a place called Taipa. In the morning two men named Tauehe and Muriwai were observed approaching and these two were caught and killed, Tauehe being killed by Moka. The heads of these unfortunates were cut off and defiantly displayed to the inmates of their own Pa, after which the war-party returned to Waimate taking the bodies with them to be eaten there.

                                      Table 1.

                                         Huna

                                                  Tupare

                                                    Hari
              _______________________________________________
      Mihingarangi                            Tawheta                         Whakariki

                        ____________________
                   Waitohi                        Uingai

                   Tauehe                         Muriwai

      Waitohi, the father of Tauehe, sought revenge, and to the Ngare-raumati consented, with the result that a war-party invaded Waimate and attacked Okuratipe (vistied by Marsden during his first inland journey) the Pa of Te Hotete who, at that moment, happened to be away fighting at Hokianga. In consequence, the Pa fell, and most of the inmates were slain, Te Auparo, mother of Maanu, together with her daughter was pursued through a cultivation and killed, their bodies being eaten on the track. The invaders now returned to Touorooro, Te Hotete returned to find his village in ruins and the slain in heaps, he at once announced his intention of attacking Ngare-raumati. The chiefs were Moka, Houwawe, Pokaia, and Te Awa. Headed by Te Hotete the war-party departed from Kerikeri and proceeeded to Whiorau, and Ngare-raumati pa and Te Rawhiti.
       Ngapuhi arrived undetected in the early morning, and soon aferward the majority of the Pa, inmates descended to the seashore to gather shell-fish, leaving only a few within the village. Those on the shore were surprised and killed, after which the pa was assaulted and quickly fell to the invaders. Te Hotete and his warriors now proceeded to Parekura Bay close by, and attacked and captured the Pa Touorooro, killing the chief Ruaouaua and capturing two canoes Te Hotete now returned to Kerikeri. Word was immediately sent to Hokianga, Matauri, Mangonui, Oihi, and other places, in consequence of which Ngatihao and Ngapuhi arose under the comand of Tapua, father of Tamati Waaka Nene. A war-party marched to Kerikeri and embarked in two canoes named Waipapa and Maurirere. Tareha was in command of the Mangonui people and Kira was the chief of those from Matauri. At this time Ngare-raumati sent a war expedition from Touorooro under the Tawheta and Tauwhitu.
     They set out in a large canoe named Takakauri and had reached a position off Tapeka point when then were observed by Ngapuhi as they paddled out past Moturoa Island. Immediately the best of the Ngapuhi warriors, among them were Mare and Pokaia (a matua of Hone Heke) boared Maurirere, it being the faster of the two canoes, and gave chase. They overtook their enemies at Tapeka point and a sea fight took place which ended in the Ngare-raumati canoe, Takakauri, being driven on the rocks at Kaiwaka. Tapua killed the first man; Tawheta was killed by Kira, and Tareha killed Tauwhitu. Included among Ngapuhi were warrriors of Ngatirahiri and Ngaitawake, these being commanded by Pokaia. In the meantime the engagement had been seen by some of the Ngare-raumati occupying the Okuia Pa and they immediatly launched two canoes to rescue the refugees. This action, however, was observed by Nga-puhi, who retired, taking with them the bodies of Tawheta and Tauwhitu, and although pursed, they succeeded in making good their escape at Te Tokitoki, at the entracne of the Kerikeri inlet.
       Following this Ngare-raumati awaited their opportunity and killed Pakaramea, a relatvie of Te Kopiri of Ngapuhi sent another expedition and laid siege to Touorooro. They were, however, unable to capture the position, and finally Ngare-raumati sallied forth and engaged their enemies, men being killed on both sides, Ngare-raumati lost a chief named Te Kuauau but succeeded in carrying his body back to the Pa. Having been unsuccessful in this enterprise, Ngapuhi returned to their homes, and for some time ther followed an interval of peace. During this time, however, both sides acquired a number of muskets until finally Maanu (Rewa) warned Makari of Ngare-raumati, that he would make war upon him for the killing of Te Auparo. In the meantime Pokaia had led an expedition and attacked the small island Pa Motupapa ( also called Motungarara, near the island of Okahu) killing all the inhabitants. Maanu finally had his forces assembled, there being the majority of Ngapuhi represented under the dhiefs Warepoake, Te Uriokana, Te Wharemokaikai, Te Wharerahi, Titore, Takiri, Moka, Kaiteke, Hapetahi, Rewharewha, Koikoi, Uretare, Wahia, Paraoa, Parangi and Marupo. The main hapu of Ngapuhi represented were Mgaitawake, Ngatitautahi and Ngatirahiri. Warriors closely attached to Titore, Takiri were Hakuene and Tareha. When all was ready the great war-party attacked Ngare-raumati. The first pa to fall was Okuia situated on the eastern headlands of Omakiwi Bay, Te Rawhiti. Following this engagement the expedition was joined by Ngaitai under the chief Mohi Tawhai. Ngapuhi now proceeded a few miles eastward and attacked Moturahurahu ( an island pa off Richards peninsula, Te Rawhiti) which place they captured killing many of the inhabitants and enslaving most of those who survived, among the prisoners being Whiti, the chief of the village. One chief, Rerhau, managed to escape, which he did by fleeing to Whangaruru. Other prisoners of note were Takahi and his son Te Hokio, Tawatawa, and Tairutu, these were taken as slaves by Ngati-rahiri to Waimate and Taiamai."

       Thus ends the account of my two informants, but it would appear that the description only touches on the more importnt episodes of the warfare, Both state that the war was of long duration, possibly the last raid, under Maanu, ended the resitance of the Ngare-raumati, for it would appear that while some remained content to live under the dominance of the newcomers, others fled the district and found shelter in the direction of Whangaroa. Following the occupation by the invaders, the land was divided among the various chiefs and their followers. Maanu, Te Wharerahi, and Moka occupied the Te Rawhiti district, Korokoro and his brother Te Ngawawa settled at Paroa while Kiateke or Kemara established villages at Otupoho and Hahangarua, on Moturua Island. Titore Takiri and Te Whareumu settled a Kororareka. Te Hotete and his son Moka do not appear to have occupied any land, but this may be accounted for through the fact that both lost their lives in the great battle of Moremu-nui. Besides occupying these new lands, the chiefs concerned still retained their interests inland, in Waimate, Watiangi, Taiamai, and other places. Their occupation, according to Kiritapu, consisted of the establihment of open villages; they did not construct or occupy any of the old fortified positiions built originally by the Ngare-raumati, on these being Kaiteke. Concerning her grandfather, Kiritapu gave the following information.