FREEING THE CAPTIVE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 64, 18 December 1946, Page 6 (Supplement)

FREEING THE CAPTIVE

Maori Cliieftainess Fearlessly Challenges Hatred and Prevents Slaying of Pakeha.

The story of the coming of the: Christ Babe was the first Bible story to be told in New Zealand. Its telling has been the means of changing the lives of very many people in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Before the Gospel message wasbrought to this country, if a pakeha (white man) were to offend a Maori, or break a native law or custom, he would very likely be killed or . have all his goods confiscated. There were times when the pakeha was wrongly accused or did wrong through ignorance. A Very Brave Woman It is recorded 'that on several occasions the troubled white man. found his saviour in the chief’s wife or daughter. The protector often ran a big risk of losing her life, and it was only a very brave woman who would dare to stand up and defend a white man who had broken one of the Maori laws. A story is told of a young military officer—Ensign Dean was his name —who went out shooting pigeonssomewhere between Rotorua and Tauranga. Some of the land near by had been consfiscated by the British and ’given to the pakeha settler's. This had made the natives intensely angry. To them it was the worst form of robbery, and they were always on the look out for opportunity to shoot any of the soldiers.

Not realising his danger, theofficer wandered on through the bush, shot a few pigeons and was enjoying the quietness and beauty of his surroundings when he was suddenly seized from behind “and thrown violently to the ground. Five bush Maoris had made him prisoner while he was trespassing, and they were now going to take him to the dreaded chief, Hakaria. They bustled him along the track and by the time they reached the village it was ablaze with excitement. The Maoris tied their prisoner captive to a tree, and began a council of war. The people sat in a semi-circle in front of him, the old chief and his wife in the centre. Bitterly hated were the pakehas; by this chief, and Ensign Dean quite expected to be killed. Some of the people were disposed to be friendly and suggested that he be allowed

to go free. Others brandished their - tomahawks over the prisoner, yelling hatred and murder. Old Hakaria was in doubt; he was afraid of what the British soldiers might do if the officer was killed by any of ‘ the tribe.' But one young savage stirred up their passion of hatred' with a fiery, ferocious speech. “Patua, patua” (kill him, kill him) • he cried, and finished his speech bystriking his tomahawk in the ground in front of the prisoner. Just when things looked blackest, the old chiefs wife—brave old woman that she was—rose to her feet, walked fearlessly over to the * prisoner, and cut the ropes that - bound him to the tree. She then * took off her korowai (cloak) and' threw it around him. Facing the violent and angry crowd, she declared: “This man is mine! Come and take him from me if you dare. If you want to kill a white man, go out and do it in the open. He did wrong in shooting our pigeons, but you have his gun and the birds he shot. What moredo you want! The utu (payment) is sufficient!”

Not a voice or hand was raised A Then that brave old chieftainess took the officer by the hand and led' him away to the bush. When well away from the Pa, she said: “Now; pakeha, you run as-hard'as you can. I may not be able to protect youany longer.” (

The Ensign had a great tale toted his comrades. Nor did he fdrget the bravery of the old chieftainess who saved him from the angry crowd and won: hi-s-.fTeedom. HeL. the captive, was given his- life. .