A MAORI KAINGA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3007, 6 March 1926, Page 1

A MAORI KAINGA.

HOW IT WAS REALISED,

“Wiremu” writes as follows to the Wellington Bulletin. “About 60 years ago the village elders at Waitara were perturbed by the behaviour of the village Don Juan, who, being also a toa, well skilled in arms had added murder to his offences, splitting the heads of several protesting husbands. The elders thereupon issued their sentence that the man must be killed. No one cart’d for the executioner’s job, but Te ltangi, a Ngatikahungun chief, on a visit, kindly offered to officiate, and, seizing an opportune moment, blew the offender’s head off. After the first breath of relief at having found someone to do the unpleasant job, one of the maroratas of the deceased raised the question of the right of a Ngatikihungunu to murder a Waitara warrior and the men of the tribe had to agree that retribution must be obtained for the act. Promptly Te Rangi fled, and although pursued for several days, he eventually escaped. A Kanga (curse) was laid upon him and his descendants forever, if they ever come to Waitara their lives would be forfeit.

Fifty years passed and Te Puia a descendant of Te Rangi, married to a South Island Maori husband, decided to accompany him with a party to a big hui that was being held at Waitara, and after her arrival she chanted her whakapapa (genealogy). An old crony who listened said: “You who are descended from Te Rangi are foolish to come here, for you will never leave Waitara alive.” The story was told to the girl, and almost immediately she became ill, and in a few days was dead. The pakeha may ascribe the death to fright or natural causes, but the Maori knows flie potency of makutu.”