MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1940, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

HONE HEKE

(Recorded by J.H.S., of Palmerston North.

for the “Times-Age.”)

Mr Spain's chief problem was concerning land at Porirua and the Hull Valley to be negotiated with Rauparaha (quivering leaf) and Taringa Kuri (dog's ear). At an enquiry were six Europeans and 200 Maoris representing the relative numbers of the contending factors. To the minds of these simple Maoris those figures indicated the relative force of evidence for and against each argument. Of course the negotiations failed. Maoris in the far North were even more defiant. There were no whale ships coming to Korora reka (sweet flesh of a bird), blankets were worn out, customs duties were high, and Native timber markets had failed. An unknown power was operating against their free and happy ways of business. An old chief, with his brown clay pipe between his teeth pointing to the flag waving from the staff, muttered: “Tenei ano te papa whawhai” (this is the emblem of power which ruined our trade). Hone Heke, a brilliant young chief, had acquired a deep knowledge of the Bible, and had shed tears in the solemnity of his baptism, married Hongi’s charming daughter, and gained great influence thereby. When reaching manhood and power he disputed religious teaching and confounded the missionaries with their own arguments. He likened the British treatment of the Maoris to Pharaoh’s oppression of the Israelites.

Had Heke the experience he would have been a great diplomatist.