MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1939, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES

OHAEWAE DEFENDED (Recorded by J.H.S. tor "Times-Age.”) The Maoris who opposed the invasion of their homeland were very critical of our army’s method of attack. One old survivor describing the position, said: , "Not until our fortress was quite finished and we were ready for war did the soldiers and sailors come from Auckland to attack it. They came up the Kerikeri River in boats and by cart road from Waimate with two small brass cannons and two small iron ones called mortars. These guns looked like potato pots. Their Taua (war party) moved slowly against Ohaeawae, and no wonder, for they had heavy clothes, cartridge boxes and packs, muskets and bayonets, even little water casks hanging at their sides. Maoris loaded that way could neither fight nor run away. They numbered 800 and we but 400. Heke was seriously ill and expected to die, so there were only 100 of us left to defend the pa. The soldiers camped within 100 yards, and Waka with 60 of their Maori allies on the hill overlooking the pa. Our war cry was clearly heard —‘Come on soldiers for revenge—Your dead lay stiff at Taumata. Whai mai —whai mai (come on, come on.)’ Next morning their little ‘potato pot guns’ began to .pop. Then our guns killed and wounded some soldiers and sailors. Muskets and the little cannon were fired at our walls all day with little effect. For five days they fired at one place for three hours, then at another, changing frequently. We in turn made repairs from within at each spot after they left. That was their mistake. Then Colonel Despard became angry and ordered his men to rush the pa and climb it with ropes. Both the defenders and the Maori friends the soldiers saw this was a fatal error. The mildest terms they applied to the Colonel were ‘fool’ and ‘amateur.’ ”