MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1939, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES

BRAVE MEN DEFEATED. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) Heke, feeling that his “city of refuge’ at Te AhuahujWas safe, went with a number of his men to Ohaewate to kill stray cattle for food. Hearing this, Tao Nui took sixty men on a dark, misty night and made a surprise capture of Heke’s Pa. Tamati Waka Nene left Okaihau and joined Tao Nui in Heke’s Pa, where there was a great store of food for winter. Heke was enraged to find his Pa and food in the hands of his enemies; and decided to recapture it before the Pakeha soldiers could return from Auckland to help Waka Nene. Heke collected 800 men, and engaged the services of Te Kaha Kaha (the strong rope), a brave leader who -would show Heke how the famous Hongi Ika had fought in tfie past generation. Next morning, before daylight, in a thick fog, they attacked their own Pa, which was now held by Tao Nui and Waka Nene with only 300 men. Heke’s men were too close together, the first volley from within killing four chiefs and a number of men. Very many were wounded. An old survivor years later, with true Maori memory (Mahara Maori), told the graphic story in detail: —“Heke’s men retired and thus enticed we followgd. They were as three to one; but when Heke shouted •Reremai!’ (attack them again), we sheltered behind a low stone fence. Waka Nene caled to us: ‘Stand firm. Let them come close. Waste no powder.’ They came so near that the smoke of our guns blew among them. They greatly outnumbered us, yet so many fell by our fire that they again retired, disheartening their leaders. Te Kaha Kaha, their strong man, fell mortally wounded, yet had it not been for our brave old man Wharepapa we would have lost our mana and suffered defeat. But Heke fell, and our courage rose, and we won a glorious victory, though many were killed. Heke recovered from his wounds to fight again.” _____