KAAPU-TE-RANGI

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 292, 7 April 1941, Page 8

KAAPU-TE-RANGI

ANCIENT MAORI FORTRESS SHOULD 1 BE WHAKATANE'S PRIDE Clouds of smoke ascending from scrub fires on the property now being farmed under the Maori Settlement above Whakatane, indicated! early last week that yet another piece of scrub land was being 'brought,-i'n' under the gradual extension of the pasture lands being reclaimed l from the rougliwhich covers the hills. To students of history, the most ar- ■ resting feature of the 'burn-off* u the exposure of the ancient earthworks of 'Kapu-te-rangi' the oldest Polynesian Pa in New Zealand. The Pa was the home of the famous Maori progenatoi". Toi who is known lo every tribe throughout the Dominion, and is known as 'the Avood-eater' owing to the belief that he and his people obtained most of their food from the forests. A Venerable Pile.

PRIDE

When Sir Apirana Ngata first planned the Ohope Maori land scheme, he was careful to include in the area set. apart, the venerable pile of Kapu-<te-rangi in the belief that being transferred to Maori hands, ii-vould not suffer the. fate of so many other historical earthworks above Whakalane, and be cut up for building sites. The burn-off has laid the old trenches and the escarpment work bare, and to-day, we seek to further the interest of Sir Apirana Ngata, by suggesting that it be suitably protected before defaced by cattle tracks, or its outline lost under the work of the plough. Eight Hundred Years Old. According to Maori genealogy, Toi. lived in Tahiti about 1150 A.T>. This was eight generations or 200 years before the arrival of the Main Fleet —the Matatua, Arawa, etc. Canoes came from another Island named Tuhua, thought to be Gahu in Hawaii. Canoe sailing races were held and Whatonga, Toi's grandson, entered his canoe in the race and was blown out to sea. Later a fog came down and Whatonga lost all sense of direction. For some years he dwelt on Ra'iatea (Rangiatea). When Whatonga did not return Toi set out in search of him. He visited many islands and at last decided to make for the land which bad been discovered by Kupe, using sailing directions which were known in Tahiti, Toi is said to have taken with him 60 persons of whom few, if any, were women. Settling at Whakatane. He discovered thCT Chatham Islands and owing to the coldness of the climate knew he was too far south. He altered his course reaching New Zealand at Tamaki. Later Toi decided to explore the country namingPTuhua (Mayor Island) after the island mentioned above, He finally settled at Whakatane. This became Toi's home, his men intermarrying with the inhabitants. In the meantime Whatonga who had returned to Tahiti set out to' find his father taking with him 66 men and women in a canoe named Te Hawai. After a long search fie discovered his whereabouts and a happy reunion took place on Whale Island. Both Toi and his son lived here for some time till Whatonga tiring of inactivity settled down with his followers in Hawlte's Bay. Descendants of Toi's and Whatonga's men were very numerous and soon obtained the leading position in the country. Toi lived to a great age and local traidtion has it that he was buried in a swamp at Ohope. Throughout Polynesia he is known as Toi-te-Hautalii but in New Zealand he is usually referred to as Toi Kai Rakau i.e. Toi who lived on the forest—had no cultivated food plants. Whatonga is said to have ended his days at Kapiti Island.