MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1939, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

TURE (LAW). (Recorded by J.H.S. for "Times-Age.”) With the advent of Christian teaching, the ancient control by the Ariki and the Tohunga whose powers lay in secrecy and superstition, gradually disappeared. Lawless behaviour quickly followed this release from restraint, which had weakened their power to self control. Then came the village Runanga in which the making of petty laws was a principal feature, without the will or the power to enforce them. Laws against falsehood, whether harmless or hurtful, led to the creation of a sectarian cult wherein the praise of one’s friends and the disparagement of enemies, without regard to the truth, were deemed to be cardinal virtues. One of their mottoes, literally translated reads “The Lord Loveth a Cheerful Liar.” Its subtle humour secured many practical disciples, and did but little harm, even slanders being regarded as jokes. When presided over by chiefs like Wiremu Tamihana or Rewi Manaiapoto these Runanga gained the respect of both races, but in other tribes much depended upon whether a Maori or a Pakeha was the one on trial. One chief when pronouncing judgment on a white offender against Maori law said: “No more mercy can be given by a Maori Runanga. to a Pakeha, than by an Auckland jury to a Maori.” The various Runangas are ruled according to choice, some by English common law, some by the ten commandments (Te Akiaki), others by their own fancies.

Wiremu Tamihana vainly tried to codify Maori law; but since Francis Bacon none have managed to do it for ours.