RAKAI HOPU KIA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 66, 17 June 1942, Page 2

RAKAI HOPU KIA

A STORY OF OLD RANGITAIKI (By P. Keegan) On the fern clad hills, a little to the south of Te Toko in the Bay ol Plenty, may be seen the remains ol an old Maori fo.rtilication, all that remains of Rakai hopu Kia, the ancient home of the Xgatai Manu Koroki people. The old fortification still stands as a monument to the military knowledge and engineering skill of the old time Maori. Well constructed, earthworks are still there, but the stout palisading has long since vanished. Cone like the brave, brown men, who toiled so hard, Avith their primitive tools, to raise them in defence of their home and little ones. For many generations this pa Avas considered to. be impregnable. Its possessors, in the process of time, become numerous and insolent. Secure in their strength, they exploited their neighbours and defied their enemies. Living in security for many years, they Avere at last doomed to destruction by the uncontrolled appetite of one man. About e : ght generations ago their chief Avas Rangi Taupi. a strong, ruthless warrior. Might Avas the only law he knoAV. To desire any tiling made it his. He had only to stretch out his strong arm and the best of everything was Avithin his grasp. Some distance to the nest near Putauaki, stood another strong pa called Pukepapa, the home of the Ngaitamoki ribte. These people were an offshoot of the great Xgatai Tuwharetoa. avliosc territory stretched from Malata to Lake Taupo. The chief of the Ngaitamoki, at that time Avas Tokoiwa. Among his possessions Avas a pet dog called Kaue of Avhich he Avas Aery fend. Rangi Taupi's craA'ing for the ilesh of this dog, brought disaster to all his people. Despising his neighbours, lie Avas too wise to be at open enmity with them, on account of their relationship to the powerful Tuwharetoa. Strategy had to take the place o;f force. Lying in ambush, he found that the dog Avent to a pool in the great raupo swamp to drink. Choosing a time Avhcn the Avind Avas in the right direction for his purpose, Rangi hid in tlie raupo and each time the dog came for a drink, frightened it aAA r ay. When night came Rangi submerged himself in the pool. The thirsty animal, coming dc.wn in the darkness, Avadcd into the Avater for a much needed drink. A strong arm stretched cut and pulled it under. In a few minutes Kaue Avas a dead dog. Taking-home his prize in great glee it Avas soon prepared and in the hangi. SeA'eral of Uangi's boon companions Avere invited to breakfast. A great march had been stolen on their neighbours, oA'er which they made merry. Great was the sorrow of Tokoiwa Avhen his pet Avas missing. Vainly he searched and called but no Kaue Avas forthcoming. It had never been known to Avander, so could not June been lost. A Kahu, or eA'il spirit might haA'e taken it, or it might lwive been deA'oured by tiie great Taniwha, Avhich eweiwhody knew dwelt in the big swamp. He had heard of such happenings. Giving up the search the-incident was closed as far as lie Avas outwardly concerned. Rangi Taupi and his people Avould luwe been quite safe and unsuspect- ! ed. but for a man's Joa'c for a avoman. The beautiful Wai kari "Sparkling Water" Avas a chief's daughter, I'mng at Rangi's pa. Her father had been killed in a fight at Wai-o-hau. She Avas all the Avorld to Kupe. a son of Tokoiwa who Avanted her for his Avifo. had other ideas. Although he had scA'eral Avives, he decided to take Waikari as avcll. What a blow this Avould be to Te.koiAva and all his people. Kupe Avas Avarned off and told that if lie persisted in his intentions, his head would adorn the gate post, and he Avould find his Avay to the hangi. Kupe was the son of a Avarrior race, and could not be put Oiff in that manner. He Avas quite Avilling to risk the future for the joys of the present. Under eoA-er of dark and stormy nights, he Avould scale the palisade, and the two Avould meet and exchange confidences, as loA'ers avill. no matter what race or colour. Waikari told of Rangi's feast. He had eaten a dog with the help of his companions, rescuing the tongue as a tit bit for himself. On hearing of this, put on his best feather mat, as befitting a person of high rank, when making a call. Grasping his mere he sallied

forth to henr-d Ihe lion in his den. After some friendly conversation Rangi was asked if he had seen a stray dog. Waxing very indignant, Rangi said: "We have not seen it. Are Ave the keepers of your pets?" In his excitement Rangi had an inward gurgling. Hearing this Tokoiwa said: "You have eaten the tongue of "my dog. I can hear it barking from within you. and Avhere the tongue is, the body is not far awav. J " Rangi was so taken with surprise that lie muttered-: "T tuluina ih:> kiroto iti kapaanui. a Toi. E an tonu ake ana." This was caught by the sharp ears of his visitor. Addressing the dog, it meant: ''I placed you on the foundation of Toi, and thought you were too far away to make your voice heard." Tokoiwa demanded utu for his loss.. He was laughed to scorn, and told that if he was not very careful, he would follow the road of the dog. Smarting under this insult, Tokoiwa withdrew in a most dignified manner. To be robbed and. then insulted, demanded redress. His honour had been sullied. Blood would have to How freely before honour could be redeemed. Brooding over his wrongs, he sat alone for days reviewing the position. His enemy must be laid low, and settled fey all time, but how? To storm the palisade was impossible. That had been tried with serious loss. This was a private qaurrel between his tribe and Rangi's. Maori etiquette forbade him calling on his powerful kinsmen over a quarrel of this kind. Rakai hopu Kia would again be assaulted. It had to fall some day. He would fire the gale and lead n storming parly through, who would die lighting. Tribal Imnour would then be preserved. Gathering his warr.ors he advance: 1 , to the attack. Each man carried a bundle of dry wood which was piled against the gate and set on fire. A breach was made and out rushed Rangi and his warriors. With fierce war cries and waving tomahawks and tiaha. a fierce battle was fought, men falling dead and wounded on both sides. Outnumbered three to one Tokoiwa and his men were forced to retire, contesting every foot of the ground as they did so. Wnikan, watching her opportunity, joined the retreat, and was soon with her lover. Seeing tills, Rangi's fury knew no bounds. Rushing in with his tiaha, he struck the tomahawk from the hand of Kupe and brought him to the earth. Kupe's life would have ended there and then but for Waikare. who seized his weapon and striking Rangi on the head, put him out of the tight for the time being. Tokoiwa and the remnant of his men were soon behind their palisade and safe. Rangi found it impossible to lay a scige on account of the Tuwharetoa attacking him from without. He Avas baffled, and to make matters Ave.rse, was j-.eerod at for allowing himself to be floored by a woman . The incident Avas by 110 means closed. Tokoiwa had to be revenged for the loss of his men. Here was another problem. Knowing the disposition of his enemy to let the.ir larder run down, a very far reaching plan Avas soon formed. Calling his people together they were put to clear more ground for kumara and taro. In the meantime no notice was, taken of his enemy who careless and carried on in the same old way. In due season crops were planted. birds snared in thousands, and preserved in their cvrn fat, eels were caught and dried. Fern root and other food was gathered in abundance. Never Avas there such a har-f vest. Store houses groaned' Avith their burden and new store houses huilt. Suvli a time of plenty had never pre\"iously been known. The plan of the campaign Avas then unfolded. Men Avere sent to tile bush to capture a party of Rangi's men who Avere cut bird spearing. These were brought in and killed. Their llesh was cut up into small parcels and each Avrapped in Rangiora leaves to give a better relish.

Stones were heated for a liangi and the fish properly cooked. It was then placed in baskets and sent by runners to all settlements of the Nagatai Tuwheretoa people as a tit bit. From Matata to Waiohau, Tarawera, Rangitaiki and Taupo, the messengers sped with an invitation to the greatest feast en record. What ] a gathering that was. Friends came from far and near, liangi saw the smoke of their ovens and wondered what was afoot. Such a feast had never been known. Kumara and taro were there steaming and tasty. Dried eels and other fish in large quantities. Juicy pigeons and kaka, with tui and makomako for the epicures. Such a meeting of the. tribes had never been known. After the first rush of feasting, a visiting chief put a question to his host. "Where .is the nice, juicy meat you sent with the invitation, and which we had good cause to expect would be here?" Pointing to Rakai hopu Kia, the host said: "There is your meat. That tribe has become a menace to the Maori people. They are too lazy to work and expect to exist on the toil of others. They can no longer be trusted or tolerated. They must be rooted out and destroyed, so that they can make no further trouble. To make sure of this, you must eat them. That is the only sure way known to the Maori. Their store houses arc lean and lacking. For food they rely on other men's savings. We shall surround them and cut them off from this supply. Hunger will do the rest. W T e have plenty of food. They may see you feast while they starve." , > While Rangi and his people were pondering over the activities of their neighbours a mighty host was seen advancing. This was nothing new to. the Ngatai Manu Koriki. Rakai hopu Kia had been attacked before, many times. It was impregnable. What had they to fear? Manning the ramparts, they jeered at the enemy and welcomed them to the attack. To their surprise no attack was made. When the besiegers surrounded the pa and made themselves comfortable and sat down, Rangi's people looked each other in the face and scented trouble. Trouble it was, stark and terrible (or them. Days ran into weeks and their store houses which had never really been filled, were becoming empty. Hunger stalked amongst them. Rangi Taupi bitterly regretted the day, when he allowed a craving for the flesh of his neighbour's dog to get the better of his judgment. Famine made its voice heard. To sally forth in a body and try to cut their way through was the only chance. Some might reach safety. This was decided on. A sudden rush brought them to grips with the enemy who fell back under the onslaught. With tomahawk and taiaha, parry and thrust, men fell on both sides. Cries of battle and yells of revenge so dear to the heart of the Maori rent tho air. Quarter was neither asked nor given. It was a fight to the death. The utter extermination of undesirable neighbours. Some escaped taiaha and tomahawk and fled to the vastness of the Urewera Country. Tokowia and Rangi met in the press. Wounded and spent, Rangi would neither flee nor yield. He said he would die on his land, and he did. A downward stroke of his opponent's taiaha sent him reeling to his knees. Seizing him by the hair, Tokoiwn forced a mere in through the top of his head, the true orthodox way of finishing a helpless foe. As the bone? crushed, Tokoiwa felt that lie had received satisfaction for the insults hurled at him, and utu for the loss of his dog. The once proud and insolent NgaIni Menu Koriki became but a remnant, ilieir hom; , :- plundered and given over to flames. Passing yc.-j-s srnv thoir strong p:iii.s;i.!e< crumb;e to 'Just and Rakai 'i!.'-)U Ki;» bi/carii-'- but ;i STK'nirry.