MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 September 1940, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

KOHURU AND UTU. (Recorded by of Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.”) The life of any man who in mind or body, good or evil intent, useless, or of evil purpose to his family or the tribe, was of no value. He might well be put to death by a warrior out for practice with his spear (tao) or club (mere): that was not murder (kohuru), but merely a useful killing (whakamate) to get- rid of a useless or harmful fellow. If any man had injured or insulted an ancestor (tupuna), then it was imperative that the appointed one of the family should take satisfaction (utu). A mother whose husband had been killed, injured, or insulted would dedicate her son before or after birth to this great purpose of restoring the mana (influence) of his family. The victim need not necessarily be the culprit—any member of his family would suffice. A guest or one who came for relief was immune. To kill him was kohuru (murder), a crime for which instant death was the one alternative. Duels were fought to avenge or appease insult or injury, real or imaginery, these with short spears (timata). The accused must first submit to three attacks and confine his effort to defence, after which they fought on equal terms, the honours of war being strictly observed. A wound (tunga) where blood (toto) flowed was the end of the fight and the occasion of it.

To elope with the wife of a tribesman meant that every man’s hand was against the culprit and meant a fight to death for the man, with slavery, life disgrace, or sudden death for the woman. Where the aggrieved husband was partly to blame, his errant wife might be pardoned (hohou rongo) and he would be blamed (kua riri) on her behalf.