MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1938, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES

THE FIRST MAORI CENSUS.

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”)

The Maori race was divided into tribes, each with its title, bestowed according to some peculiarity, circumstance or locality. Every tribal name was prefixed by the plural article “The” (Nga), dr “the descendants of” (Ngati). In 1849 their designations, localities and numbers were approximately as follows:—Eighteen or twenty major tribes were known to our forefathers. The Rarawa (Midday Sun) lived in the far north. They conquered, enslaved, and thus extinguished the Auipouri. The Rarawa numbered 2300.

Near them was the famous Nga Puhi, 5400. They were the first Maoris to procure firearms, and were thus generally victorious. Their mental development followed the contact with Europeans. The combined Manaiapoto and Waikato tribes, numbering 9800, lived along the banks of our largest river amid the richest lands. The Ngati Whatua, brave, honest and peaceful, mingled with the settlers. Tribal raids had reduced them to 800. On the bays and islands of the Hauraki Gulf and along the Thames river are the Ngati Paoa and Ngatimaru, 5000 strong. They live in luxury from the sale of fish and garden produce. In the Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and both coasts of Cook Strait were bold nomadic Ngati Awa, who chartered an English ship to take them to the Chatham Islands in 1838, whose people’they enslaved. The Ngatiawa numbered 4000. The Ngati Whakaue, 3200, lived around Rotorua and Tarawera lakes, and were distinguished by Jewish features and Roman noses. At Opotiki there lived the Whaka Tohea, 2600, busy folk with 20 vessels in which they carried produce to Auckland. Round the East Cape were the Ngatipouru, 4000. They were famous weavers of the Kaitaka mats with fancy borders. From Poverty Bay to Cape Palliser were the Ngati Kahungunu, 4000, who became famous for growing wool and meat.