The Sacking of KAIAPOHIA PA

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 15, 23 October 1931, Page 1

The Sacking of KAIAPOHIA PA

On Sunday afternoon, October 25, and on Monday, October 26 (beginning at 10.30), 3Y.A will carry out special broadcasts on relay of commemorative services and celebrations in connection with the centenary of the sacking of the Katapohia pa by Te Rauparaha. Distinguished visitors will be present at the functions, one of which will be the opening of 'a new fence, built to represent the old palisade, on the site of the original defensive works. This ceremony will be performed by his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe.

.t DEY. through Kaiapoi to-day, carry ' , straight on up the Main North Road to the memorial marking the site of the old Kaiapohia Pa, which, exactly 100 years ago, was sacked and burned by Te Rauparaha, the fierce northern chief; or turn off and drive through Tuahiwi, and you will

find the inhabitants pursuing their peaceful lives surrounded by rich, fertile country, well ordered and kept. Little can be seen to recall the. stirring days preceding 1831. No casual observer would realise that fearless. Maori warriors. fought and died in hundreds over this very groundthe Ngai-Tahu defending: their pa, the Ngatitoa and other tribes under Te Rauparaha seemingly avenging the killing of some of their chiefs but, in reality, endeavouring to subdue the NgaiTahu and wrest from them their wealth. Still living at Tuahiwi are descendants of the great chiefs of the Ngai-Tahu, who, under Turakautahi, founded and settled Athe Kaiapohia Pa about the year 1700. -They represent — the eventh, eighth, ninth and tenth generations, and are at present organising the centenary celebrations of the evacuation of ‘the pa, to be held from October 24 to 26, when Maoris from every part of New Zealand will forgather at one of the largest huis ever held, and the first centenary celebration Maori history knows. : 7 From a strategic point of view, the site of Kaiapohia-a tract of land about ten acres in extent, jutting out into a lagoor -could scarcely have been better chosen. The Lagoon, Tai- rutu by name, was, in turn, surrounded by vast areas of swamp and offered protection and practical immunity from attack or three sides. The land side, which covered the south end, wa: guarded by high earthworks-the remains of which can be seer to-day-outside of which were erected strong wooden palisade: that extended right round the pa. Behind the earth-wall was a double row of palisades. The fortifications were completed by the erection of a high watch-tower at the south end, and the pa was deemed imprecnahble.

ina . spirit of revenge for insults and fi [ by ayarice on account of the greenstCie treasures which the Negai-Tahu possessed, Te Rauparaha decided to attack the pa. Despite Te Rauparaha’s protestations of friendliness, the Kaiapohians were rightly suspicious, and they killed eight chiefs who had entered the pa. Te Rauparah went back to Kapiti and planned revenge. Three years later he came again. After a siege of three months, and during which time he realised the futility of "a frontal. attack, Te Rauparaha conceived the scheme of firing the wooden palisades. Three parallel trenches, constructed in zigzag fashion, were dug up to the foot of the stockade, and bundles of manuka scrub were gathered. As soon as there was sufficient scrub for the purpose, the bundles were carried up the trenches and placed

one on top of the other at the foot of the palisade. The daring of this oper-

ation was magnificent as the warriors engaged in it were exposed to the deadly fire of the

esa re We Este Ngai-Tahu. Notwithstanding the enormous loss of life, the ‘piles of scrub grew higher and higher. As the work progressed, the dreadful significance of it became impressed upon the occupants of the pa, and various methods of escape from the impending disaster were attempted. One night, Taiaroa, with the force he brought from the Peninsula, withdrew from the stronghold, with the object of attacking the northerners from outside, and so creating a diversion. He was, however, destined never to do so. T last, after feverish suspense, the fatal day dawned. A nor’-wester sprang up. And it was now that the vagaries of Canterbury winds played so important a part in the success of Te Ruaparaha’s plan. One of the Ngai-Tahu chiefs decided that if the scrub were fired from within the prevailing wind would carry the flames away from the palisades, and so thwart the northerners’ chances. Seizing a fire-brand, he thrust it into the dry scrub, and in no time the roaring flames rose high. It appeared for a while that Te Ruaparaha’s final effort to sack the stronghold was vsoine to prove as futile as his previous

attempt. But at this juncture, as in so many others of his eventful life, Te Rauparaha’s characteristic good fortune did not desert him. While his men were being mown down under the galling musketry of the enemy, the wind swung suddenly round to the south, and the whole aspect of the combat was instantly changed. The flames were carried high against the walls, licking the palisades with fiery tongues, while dense clouds of smoke rolled backwards, driving the garrison from the trenches and from every station of defence. By this marvellous reversal of fortune Te Rauparaha was not slow to profit, and no sooner had the firing of the defenders slackened. than his men:crept up to the walls, and, as an essential precaution, filled up the loopholes through which the NgaiTahu marksmen (Concluded on page 2.)

The Sacking of Kaiapohia Pa

(Continued from page 1.) had taken aim. This must have. seriously hampered the defenders, had they been disposed to stand to their posts. But they were no longer animated so much by the desire to save the pa as to save themselves. Panic had now taken the place of heroism and despair had completely extinguished all idea of defence. The sauve qui peut of Napoleon became equally the policy of Ngai-Tahu, and from this point there was nothing heroic in the defence of Kaiapoi. In a marvellously short space of time the flames had completely enveloped the outer works; and, while they were eating their way through the wooden walls, many of the besiegers were induging in the wild joy of the war-dance, which, according to one native chronicler, was so vigorously conducted that "the noise they made was like thunder, and the earth trembled." As soon as a breach had been made, the attacking force rushed between the burning palisades, and the massacre-for it can be described by no other word-commenced. No semblance of resistance was offered except by a desperate few, and those who still lingered were either struck down by their infuriated purguers or were captured and bound, to be spared or killed, as future circumstances might dictate. At the time of the sacking the total population of Kaiapohia was about 1000 men, women and children. Some escaped in the confusion following the burning of the pa, many were killed. and a considerable number were taken to Kapiti. As can readily be imagined, the Ngai-Tahu, as soon as they were suffi-’ ciently recovered from the terrible shock of the destruction of their pa, began to organise an expedition to avenge the defeat. Maoris throughout the South Island rallied to the cause, and’a party of 270 warriors left for Cook Strait. Soon another party sailed and came within an ace of achieving its object. But the wily Te Rauparaha escaped during the conflict. A few months later another expedition, numbering 400 warriors, started for Cook Strait in a in a flotilla of canoes and boats. Although it engaged Te Ruaparaha’s men, no . definite decision was reached. Shortly afterwards hostilities between the two tribes ceased. Te Ruaparaha’s tribe quarrelled with its allies, the Ngatiawa, and fearing a coalition against him, the chief made peace with the Ngai-Tahu and returned several chiefs

whom he had captured at the sacking of Kaiapohia, and the other prisoners. Since then the Ngai-Tahu have made no attempt to rebuild Kaiapohia, being content to settle at Tuahiwi. The site of the old pa is now a reserve, marked by the monument erected to its founder, Tarakautahi. An Historic Association. Mr. Te Ari Pitama, who will act as announcer for 3YA when the proceedings in connection with the celebrations are being broadcast, has an his‘toric association with the famous event. Among the captives taken from the Kaiapohians was a handsome lad named Pura (known to Lyttelton residents as Pitama), who took Te Ranuparaha’s fancy, and was led by him into his whare. To prevent his escaping during the night, the old chief tied a.stout cord round the boy’s body and fastened the end of it to his own wrist. During the early part of the night Te Rauparaha was wakeful, and kept pulling the cord to assure himself that his prisoner was safe; but when sleep overpowered him the cord relaxed, and

-the boy, who was watching for an opportunity to escape, successfully disengaged himself from his bonds, and having fastened the check string to a peg which he found in the floor, crept cautiously out of the hut. It was too dark for him to distinguish anything, and as he passed out he overthrew a pile of brushwood, which slipped down and completel: covered him. Old Rauparaha, roused by the noise, sprang to his feet and immediately discovered. the’ trick which had been played upon him. He at once gave the alarm, and roused the whole camp. Suddenly awakened from profound sleep induced by weariness after the violent exertion and excitement of the previous day, and by the sense of secur‘ity ensured by victory, the northern warriors were in the condition to give way to panic, and it was well for them that the circumstance which caused the disturbance in their camp proved after all to be of such a trivial nature. With shouts and cries the men rushed hither and thither in wild confusion, some calling out that the

prisoners had escaped, others that the eamp was being attacked by their friends, who were attempting to rescue them. Torches were lit and seen flashing in all directions, guns were fired, and the greatest commotion prevailed — everywhere. All the time this uproar was going on, the cause of it was lying perfectly still under the fallen pile of brushwood, beside the commander-in-chief’s hut. He knew that if discovered he would be immediately put to death, as it waS an unpardonable offence for a prisoner to escape. Escape, however, at such a moment was impossible, and poor Pura lay in the greatest state of terror and alarm, expecting every moment that his hiding place would be found out. Fortunately for him that was not to be; and when the alarm subsided and stillness once more reigned, he quietly extricated himself and groped his way out of the camp into the surrounding flax swamps,. under cover of which he escaped. Journeying southward, he fell in with the main body of the fugitives, who were travelling on in the same direction till they reached a place of safety.