MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 January 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

THE WAITARA DISPUTE.

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”)

The cause of this petty squabble which had such disastrous after results has always been a matter of question. The most reasonable solution of the mystery is given by one of the pioneer authorities, who says that if a Maori chief suffers an indignity by persons of his own tribe and can find no ready means of redress, he may do something which will invoke trouble on his own tribe from an enemy tribe. Such an act is known as Whakahe. which means putting the blame upon his opponents. No matter what evil may result from this dangerous practice, it gains the respect rather than the censure of his tribe.

A Ngatihau chief who look part in the Taranaki war, says the reason why Wiremu Teira proposed to sell the disputed block of land at Waitara, was that he wanted to obtain Utu (satisfaction) for a public wrong put upon him by Wi Kingi in a private quarrel. According to this strange custom of Whakahe, there is nothing improbable in the story, which explains Teira’s unusual action. This block of 600 acres was formerly occupied by many families who had thus acquired rights in it, yet Teira offered to sell it, in direct opposition to Kingi and others who really owned parts of it. Teira’s proposal to sell was prompted by a vindictive feeling toward Kingi. It is pitiful to think that a private quarrel should have involved the colonials and the Maoris in long and bitter wars.