MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1939, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

DEATH WITH HONOUR. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Tupori’s sole object in making a seemingly hopeless attack was to gain personal honour. He and his men were amazed to hear the soldiers cursing during the fight. A grave breach of the honours of war, for up to that moment nothing was wrong on either side. After that breach of custom. of course, the attack on Heke’s Pa failed. Waka Nene’s friendly allies of the pakeha suggested a stealthy attack on Kapotai Pa near Waikari, because the occupants were allie's of Heke and Kawiti. Led by 100 soldiers they ascended the Waikari River silently in the dark to avenge their dead; but the great flocks of parera (wild duck) fled over the Pa and warned the occupants who called loudly: “If you are Maori warriors we give you fair fight: if soldiers here is our Pa, we give it to you." The soldiers and Waka Nene’s Maoris robbed the Pa and killed the pigs as fair Utu (reprisal) for the burning of Korora reka. This was followed by desperate hand-to-hand fighting in the depths of the forest. Hauraki was badly wounded and simulated death in order to escape the post-mortem disgrace of defeat (riri kore). Two friends were about to carry him away, but with true Maori chivalry he persuaded them to hide him in the fern in order to make good their own escape. He lay two nights in rain and cold, until in delirium, thinking what a family disgrace it would be if he should be captured alive, a spirit came in the darkness and whispered like music in his ear—“ Thought is the strength of the body —Arise!” He arose and walked in pain and weakness to the river where he found a small canoe in which

he floated down stream, until upset in a rapid; he was rescued by a pakeha who cared for him and conveyed him to his Maori home, where he died content to escape the disgrace of Tuaki (being disembowelled)..