MAORI HISTORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 June 1939, Page 7

MAORI HISTORY

EVENTS IN SOUTH WAIRARAPA ARRIVAL OF FIRST NATIVES. ADDRESS BY MR J. F. THOMPSON. (“Times-Age” Special.) “The Early Maori History of the South Wairarapa” was dealt with by Mr J. F. Thompson, of Greytown, in an address given to the Greytown Branch of the Women's Division of the Farmers’ Union. “The weight of authoritative opinion supported by traditional legend in the Eastern South Seas, is that the Polynesians came from Malaya and Southern India,” said Mr Thompson. “A thousand years B.C. commenced the first great migration, the adventurers travelling by coracle and sampan through the East Indian Archipelaco into the Eastern Pacific thence across the Equator to discover Fiji and afterwards on to Hawaiki —the great “Golden Tahiti.” Thus ended the first phase of the migration and so came the bold sea rovers, the Polynesians, to the South Seas. Other migrations followed and peopled the Tahiti Group Paumotus, the Low Archipelago and Cook Islands, and in those seas the Polynesians over coral-reef and in smashing surf developed their unrivalled boatmanship and in hurricane and tornado their seamanship. “In 925 A.D. was born Kupe. famous navigator, of Rarotongan father and Tahitian mother, a born venturer and navigator. As a young man with Ngake. his second canoe captain, he commenced his great southern journey via Rarotonga. Leaving the idyllic lagoon, Takitimu, he navigated his two. canoes south-west into the unknown. Steering by sun by day, by stars at night and almost at the end of endurance and after untold privations, the gallant voyagers made landfall in northern New Zealand called by them ‘Aotearoa.’ After recuperating, the canoes traversed the East Coast, saw in wonderment volcanoes smoking into the blue, mighty forests, crimson red pohutukawas and landed at Rangiyvhakamoa (Castlepoint), Matakitaki (Cape Palliser), and Whanganuiatara (Wellington Harbour) — Whanganui (large bay) and atara (a neck). The South Island was circumnavigated, the majestic Southern Sounds and giant berried trees investigated on the West Coast and ultimately Kupe rounded the North Cape and returned to Tahiti there to tell of the. wonderful southern isles.

“Later migrations commenced and the story of the seven great canoes is widely known. The original Wairarapa Maoris made the journey in the famous canoe ‘Takitimu’ and aftei' tarrying at Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, came into Palliser and established themselves in South Wairarapa. Thus originated the Rangitanes of 'Wairarapa, dusky warlike men, brave in battle and generous in peace towards their enemies. To them South Wairarapa prevented an earthly paradise, beautiful rivers teeming with fish, fertile lands for fern roots, and crops and forest glades alive with birds. The banks of the Ruamahanga, the Tauherenikau and the Waiohine rivers became their favourite haunts. Over fourteen generations ago there lived as chief of the Rangitane tribe, Kahu Kuraiti and his children were Te Rerewa and Hinetauira (a beautiful daughter) who became espoused to the paramount Hawke’s Bay chief, Rangi Werohia. She lived with her husband near Hastings and to them were born a son, Rangitawhanga, and a daughter, Hineterangi. A dispute over communal land arose between son and daughter and the Hawke’s Bay tribe took sides and fought a great civil war battle at Oruarei, near Heretaunga, Hastings. Their father was killed in the battle and the son Rangitawhanga, discomfited, so that taking two canoes and his followers he left Hawke’s Bay. for ever, to return to Palliser Bay and Wairarapa, the ancestral. home of his mother. He became the guest of Te Rerewa, his uncle, at Aorere (Lake Ferry). Ultimately, Rangitawhanga bought the whole of South Wairarapa north to the Waiohine River,for 6 war canoes (his own two) and four cut from a.totara forest at Wainuioru (near Admiral Run). This great land transaction (which was free from stamp duty) was completed . at Upokokirikiri (Kohinui Pah, Pirinoa)., and the vendor, Te Rerewa, departed for ever to Waipou-na-mu (South Island).

“A long line of chiefs from Rangitawhanga (including Te Hiiha, noted fighting leader) ruled with determination this fine tribe which not only successfully defended its borders but extended by conquest its boundaries to Waingawa. “In the direct line of descent from the chiefs who emigrated in the canot Takitimu from Rarotonga is Hiorang: te Whaiti (Mr George te Whaiti, noted rifle shot and president of the Greytown Rifle Club.”) Mr Thompson, in concluding, outlined the similarity of customs and placenames in Eastern Polynesia with those of Maoriland and made a strong pie; for the preservation of Maori art, car : ving and the beautiful Maori language.