Life among the Tuhoe

Te Ao Hou, November 1957, Page 8

Life among the Tuhoe Peehi accepted the offer and in 1896 built his hut at Te Whaiti, later moving to Ngaputahi, Heipipi and finally to Ruatoki. Altogether he spent 15 years, most of the time alone, among the Tuhoe people. During the last part of his stay he was joined by his wife, who had taught at a

Tutakangahau wearing flax cloak and feather in hair. Standing beside him are his son, Tukua Te Rangi (in hat) and Te Kokau. The woman in the picture is Te Kura. (Photograph taken by Peehi in 1896.) Maori school, knew the Maori language, and shared his interest. The Tuhoe called her Hinekura because of her auburn hair. Peehi's sympathetic approach made the people trust him and recognise him as a true scholar. “Greetings to you, the ahua (semblance) of the men of old”, was the way one acquaintance greeted him. Old Tutakangahau, the white-haired chief of Tamakaimoana, at Mangapohatu, once said to him: “Truly do I see that you tread in the footsteps of the men of old and my heart goes out to the man of a strange race who honours the heroes of the great past, be they pakeha or Maori”.