TE RAKAU I MATAAHU

Te Ao Hou, December 1961, Page 9

TE RAKAU I MATAAHU by LEO FOWLER Behind the recent hoisting of the Ngati Porou flag on a flagstaff at Mangatuna (East Coast) lies a great deal of New Zealand history. On the centre of the stage is Ropata Wahawaha; the time is the Te Kooti wars. This story gives the background, written by Leo Fowler who has already published a novel and several articles on the Te Kooti period. In spite of the weather and a strong counter-attraction offered by the ministerial opening of a new school at Mangatuna, there was a large attendance at the Kie Kie marae last September when the ninety-year-old flag was hoisted on the eighty-year-old flagstaff, Te Rakau i Mataahu. Both flag and flagstaff have a rich background of history. After the flag had been hoisted by ninety-year-old A. B. Williams a service was held under its folds to re-dedicate the loyalty of the Ngati Porou people, and especially of the Ngati Rakairoa hapu on whose marae the ceremony was held. In the place of honour on the meeting house porch were the portraits of Major Rapata Wahawaha, N.Z.C., M.L.C., Sir Apirana Ngata and 2nd Lieutenant Te Moananui a Kiwa Ngarimu, V.C., all members of the Ngati Rakairoa, and all outstanding leaders among their Maori people. Behind this ceremonial flag-hoisting lies a story of one man whose vision and courage and purpose make him, perhaps, the greatest and most significant Maori of all time. I'd like to begin this story at the point where he held a similar flag-hoisting ceremony, some eighty years ago.