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| The Conquest of the Ngare-Raumati by Leslie G. Kelly |
| ~Page 2~ |
| At the time of the conquest he was know as Tareha, but he is not to be confused with Tareha of Waimate; actually, there were three of that name. Following an incident which took place at Hick's Bay during one of the later musket-armed expeditions he was named Kaiteke a name which he bore until he was finally converted to christainity, at which time he was christened Kemara or Campbell. He lived most of the time on Moturua, in little villages in varioius bays, and also on his ancestral lands at Te Ti, at the mouth of the Waitangi River. He was a Matakite, and foretold certain events in a most remarkable manner. He is famous for singing a song just prior to Te Ika-a-ranganui in which he foretold the result of the battle ( see Maori Wars of the Nineteenth Century) Kiritapu, her face alight with pride, sang this song of olden days for our benefit as she recited her story. Kaiteke had several wives, among whom was Puatea, a young women of the Ngare-raumati. When it became known that Kaiteke desired her, Puatea who was a very frivilous young person, endevoured to persuade her cousin kerara, to take her place, but this was over ruled by Korokoro, who informed Kerara that she was his 'popene' (fourpence) and she was to take no notice of Puatea whom he referred to as a ' Kahawai kotiti' a reference to her frivilous disposition. Evidence of his ability to foretell coming events is illustrated by the following: It was not long after he had been married to Puatea, who was at this time pregnanat, Kaiteke was sitting outside his house at Hahangarua nursing his pet Kawau, and having dozed off, he dreamt that he was singing a song the words of which he remembered on awakening, and from which he knew that the coming child would be a male. He announced that the son would eventually prove a man of no influence, a fact which was later borne out, for Kemara Nohinohi remained a man of no consequence and took no part in tribal affairs. kaitekei died about 1859 and shortly before his death he remarked one day to his daughter Takurua " I muri i ahau ka whanau koe he kotiro" ( after I am gone you will give birth to a daughter) a remark supplemented by instructions as to the future child's welfare. The prophecy was all the more remarkable since Takurua was not expecting of a child at the time; but as foretold, she shortly afterward became pregnant and in due course gave bith to a daughter which in accordance to the old man's wishes was named Kiritapu. To conclude, Kiritapu gave the following story concering Titore Takiri. "While in England Titore was presented by King George IV with a steel helmet, a coat of armour, a long coat with gold buttons, and a document complete with a re-seal giving him certain rights. After he had returned to his home he one day, having come to the conclusion that the coat was too long, took it to a magistrate in Kororareka named Paahito ( ?) to be shortened. This was accordingly done, but after its return Titore was informed by another European name Tipene ( Stevenson) that the original gold buttons had been removed and brass ones substituted. Titore was impressed but did not ask for their return at the time. Some time passed, and the time came when the document received by Titore from King Geroge IV became much worn from continual folding. Once again Titore went to the magistrate Paahito with the request that it be renovated, In due course the document was returned, apparently as good as new, and complete with the red seal. Titore was much gratified but became very annoyed when he was informed by Stevenson that the document was only a copy. This time he demanded Paahito to return the original which was finally done. "On death of Titore the articles were left to his old friend Hakuene, who made a division, giving the helmet and suit of armour to Ngati-Rehia, the black coat of Te Morenga of Te Rarawa, and keeping the document for himself, Finally Kerei Mangonui of Ngatirehia, accompanied by Kemara Nohinohi (son of Kaiteke) and Kingi Hori Kira, took the suit of armour south and presented it to Waikato." |
| A lullaby by Kaiteke for his son The results of a dream while nuring his pet kawau. Chiefly son, friendless, a straying kahawai fish, you shall be blown by the winds of the ridge, and pierced by the cold of Hikurangi, (1) which shall eat into your skin relegating you to the unknown ones. Permit us then, this mentioning of 'tis for Whiorau (2) possibly, and Tapeka (3) also 'tis correct that Tapeka is indeed a payment of men. Behold here your ancestor 'Takaroa (4) lying hither within Te Wharau (5) 'twill not be Mataiwhetu which shall avenge the wrongs (6) You must cast yourself to Mataa (7) and to Maanu (8) for this land, for the whole inland tribe within Waipapa (9) when you arrive at the mangrove clumps inside of Ihupuku (10) to the people. Dive oh son, into the whirlpool at Koroipo (11) that was the revenge of your ancestor oh son 'tis said that Ngapuhi has faded away left to lie like a large unstable canoe. A great house is Puhi of many chiefs standing differently to other hills in the west Swim oh son, the river at Hokianga that you may catch niua (12) and Araiteuru (13) turn you eyes to Panguru (14) to Papata (15) enter oh son, the house belongs t Te Tai (16) and there enquire it shall be for you to say that is the descendent of Hiwhero (17) whose sayings shall be remembered before oh son, the time of Taikiri( 18) they lived grasp oh son, the low-lying clouds spread out beneath Whaaro (19) to the people Elevate yourself like the kauri of the forest return back, you the from above from Ngati-Tupoto (20) from your parent, from Whatiia (21) that you may grasp the weapon that this son may rise to anger, his fury to arise to parry off the enemy blows oh son. |
| He Whakaoriori na Kaiteke mo tana Tamaiti Tama rangi huanga kore he kahawai kotiti A puhia koe nga hau o te rae, A werohia koe e te anu o Hikurangi E kai to kiri tohia ihl koe ki te tohi kuare, na. Nei koa taua te kiia mai nei Mo Whioruau ranei, mo Tapeka hoki Ina ia te kore ko to tupuna ko 'Takaroa Takoto mai i roto o te Wharau Ehara ko Mataiwhetu ka ea nga mate, na Me maka atu koe ki a 'Mataa ma ra Ki a maanu ma ra mo te whenua nei, Mo te waka uta katoa e ki roto o Waipapa, E tae ra koe nga rake maanawa I roto te Ihupuku, ki te iwi e, I-i Rukuhia e tma, te u ki kororipo, Ko te uto tena o tupuna e tame e Kiia mai nei ka ngaro Nga-puhi Waiho kia tokoto he tukoki waka nui Kauria e tama te awa ki Hokianga Kia whakahi koe ki Niua, ki Araiteuru Tahuri o mata ki Panguru, ki Papata Tomokia e tama, te whare i a Te Tai E tae koe e uia mai hoki Mau e ki atu ko te uri tena o Hiwhere e pepehatia iho I mua ra e tama ia Takiri kor ora ana Whakamau e tama nga kohu e tatao Whakarewa ina ra te kauri i te wao Hoki mai whakamuri na runga mai koe I Ngati-Tupoto i to matua hoki la whatiia e kia whakamaua mai koe ki te rakau Kia riri ai te tama nei kia nguha ai ki te karo patu e tama e. |
| 1. Hikurangi, a pa in the north-east of Moturua Island. 2. Whiorau, a pa at Parekura bay, Te Rawhiti. 3. Tapeka, well known point in Russell 4. 'Takaroa, short for Hautakaroa, an ancestor 5. Te Wharau, place at the mouth of Kerikeri river 6. Mataiwhetu, a pa at Te Ti, mouth of Waitangi river 7 'Mataa, short for Kainga-mataa or Moka, brother of Maanu 8. Maaun, also called Rewa, father of Matire Toha 9. Waipapa, place to the north of Kerikeri 10. Ihupuku, place at Kerikeri 11. Kororipo, pa at headwaters of Kerikeri river, formly occupied by Mahia, noted Ngapuhi ancestor 12. Niua, a taniwha at Hokianga 13. Araiteuru, a taniwha at Hokianga 14. Panguru, place at Hokianga 15. Papata, place at Hokianga 16. Te Tai, chief of Hokianga 17. Hiwhero, an ancestor 18. Takiri, short for Titore Takiri, Ngapuhi chief who visited England 19. Whaaro, place at Ninety mile beach 20. Ngatitupoto, a tribe at Hokianga 21. Whatiia, a chief of Ngatitupoto |
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