20 • TE AO MAORI MAI I TE TAIRAWHITI • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2007 NGĀ MAUNGA

He Mihi Kōkai and

Ka rere tonu toku mihi ki a koutou e Ko Kōkai te maunga aronui mai nā ki ēnei ngā whārangi tuaiwa Kōkai is the mountain o, Ngā Maunga Kōrero o Te Tairāwhiti. Mai Whāngārā i tērā marama, e hoki Ko Whareponga te awa whakatemoana mātau ki ērā o ngā kāinga Whareponga is the river rongonui, o Whareponga. He aha e rongonui ai? Mai i tētahi tūāhua nui i tūtakitaki ai Ko Te Āitanga-a-Mate te iwi i Whareponga, i ara ai tētahi tangata tino Te Āitanga-a-Mate is the tribe rongonui me āna mahi i hora whānui nei ki roto o Te Tairāwhiti, tae noa mai ki ēnei Tīhe mauri ora! rā. Ko taua tangata, ko Tūwhakairiora. Ko Alas the breath of life! āna mahi, he rongonui, he motuhake, he tutukinga mutunga kore. Kāti rā, waiho mā ngā kupu e whai ake hei kōrero. Anō nei rā, HE formidable precipice of Kōkai tangatanga mai, pānui mai, whakaarohia mai. dominates the rugged terrain of TWhareponga and rises boldly over Greetings once again to you all and to these the few houses that dot this spectacular seaside pages of issue nine of the series, Ngā Maunga landscape. Kōkai stood witness to what could Kōrero o Te Tairāwhiti. From Whāngārā arguably be the most important event in the history last month we travel back up the coast to of Te Tairāwhiti — the demise of Poroumātā and the famous settlement of Whareponga. Why the rise of his grandson, Tūwhakairiora. This famous? A very important event took place event, in the early 1600s, would have rumblings in Whareponga, and a very important person for many generations after. Its influence is still was to emerge from that event, who would very much in evidence today. have a great impact upon the shape and The fortified summit of Kōkai was home Kōkai maunga and Whareponga awa. structure of Māori tribal society throughout to Poroumātā and his family. The adjacent Te Tairāwhiti as we know it today. That hill-top fortifications at Maungatere, Tokatea man was Tūwhakairiora. His exploits were and Rangitoto to the south, and Mātakukai, legendary, his legacy incomparable and his Tongānu and Ruawhakapapa to the north, north. Reference to this invasion was made in a But these days Kōkai and Whareponga stand influence undeniable. The stories that follow would have presented a formidable sight to any previous issue (Ngā Puke-tūrua and Te Kautuku) quiet and peaceful, belying much of its early will tell the tale, so relax, read and let your would-be invader. But against such odds came in the story of Piripi Taumata-a-kura and the turbulent history. Although only a few people thoughts wander. Tūwhakairiora, whose appearance had been attack on Whetumatarau in . The live there, there are many, many more who regard predestined many years before. Incredibly, the steep escarpments of Kōkai and its seemingly it as their tūrangawaewae (place of origin). The Kahutia — Department of Māori Studies & man was neither born nor lived in Whareponga, impenetrable palisades proved no match for the is undergoing renovations at the moment Social Sciences but his name and his deeds are indelibly etched blazing muskets of the Ngāpuhi warriors. Kōkai with the building of a new whare-kai (dining Tairāwhiti Polytechnic into the stories of the area. His legacy too is was evacuated and its survivors fled inland, taking room). And while there is activity on the marae it embodied in the principal iwi of Whareponga refuge with many others on Taitai, one of the means the community is still active and that the (A special thanks to Dr. Monty Soutar, from whose and the surrounding area, Te Āitanga-a-Mate cluster of maunga (mountain) around Hikurangi. traditions of the people of Whareponga and Te thesis much of the information was sourced. Also to (the descendants of Materoa), who was tuakana Place names of the area also reflect the presence Āitanga-a-Mate are alive and well! The stories Taina Ngarimu for trekking the sands and hills of (elder sister) to his own mother, Te Ātaakura. of other earlier visitors. For example, , that follow are mainly about Tūwhakairiora and Whareponga for photos to be taken — He mihi nui ki Kōkai also featured in another battle two Mataahu, Waikawa and Waipiro were given by his significance not only to Whareponga but to a kōrua tahi.) centuries later, around 1820, when a Ngāpuhi Paoa, the captain of the Horouta about the the whole of the Ngāti Porou region. war party led by Pōmare invaded from the year 1350. Te Āitanga-a-Mate – The Descendants of Materoa the air, prompting the rest of his men, 90 in all, to do the same, then lunging them down on to their hapless enemy. With Ngāti Ruanuku entangled in the nets, Pākānui and his men withdrew their patu, which had been strapped to their lower leg and concealed by the water, and ruthlessly disposed of the Ngāti Ruanuku fishermen. By day’s end victory was Pākānui’s. He had overthrown the principal pā of Kōkai and Tokatea and the minor pā of Rangitoto and Maungatere. The battle became known as Te Ika-Kōpara-rua — Two fish in one net, one fish being the kehe and the other being Ngāti Ruanuku. Subsequent battles followed, disposing of the remnant groupings of Ngāti Ruanuku, including Te Taitimuroa (Te Poho-wera — The Burnt Breasts) and Te Roro-hukutai. Among the Ngāti Ruanuku chiefs killed in these battles were Kumikumi, Tūria, Pākeka, Kōhea, Wharepū, Whata, Te Winiwini and Hautao. Some streams and knolls in the area still bear their names. Ngāti Ruanuku had now been completely exterminated, the death of Poroumātā avenged and the way left open for his descendants to return to occupy their lands. Through Tūwhakairiora and Pākānui, Tokatea is the middle ridge in the background, Te Maire stream is in the centre and Akuaku is in the foreground. Poroumātā’s legacy descended to his oldest daughter Materoa. Her mana is enshrined to Kua ea te wāhanga ki taku taina gnaws within me? There is none other than my outnumbered of course, but Pākānui noticed that this day in the name of the hapū of the whole My sister’s grief has been appeased grandson, Pākānui.” Ngāti Ruanuku regularly came into the rocky Whareponga area, Te Āitanga-a-Mate — The Pākānui was Materoa’s grandson through her foreshore channels dotted along the coastline to descendants of Materoa. Tūwhakairiora himself Engari ko te wāhi ki au, kei te toe second husband, Tamaterongo, and their son, fish for kehe (sea trout). Pākānui thus hatched would leave a legacy through his descendants But mine has not Rongo-te-hēngia. At the time Pākānui was on his plan. and alliances. There is hardly a hapū between another mission in the Māhia district but returned With the help of his brothers, Pākānui marked (Hicks Bay) in the north to Mā wai e ngaki te wahanga ki au? immediately when told of his grandmother’s out the various fishing channels and also set about in the south that does not have Who will end the pain that gnaws within me? request. He told his cousin Tū-te-huru-tea to soliciting the help of his many relatives who were some connection to him. return to Whareponga and to prepare the way for living amongst Ngāti Ruanuku. Having made RIOR to the death of Poroumātā his visit, but in a way not to cause any alarm. their preparations, and with everything in place, his daughter Materoa had married Pākānui and his party, which included his Pākānui was now ready to fulfil the wish of his PTameterongo and was living in Whare- brothers, their wives and children, arrived by sea grandmother, Materoa. kōrero Marae on Tītīrangi (Kaiti Hill) in Tūranga. and were welcomed ashore by Ngāti Ruanuku at On dawn of the appointed day, Pākānui, his After the battle of Te Hiku Tawatawa, in which Akuaku — about halfway between brothers and all their men gathered in the fishing Tūwhakairiora routed the Ngāti Ruanuku of and Whareponga and near Tokatea, one of the channels with their freshly-woven flax nets and Tongānu, the news was conveyed to Materoa by main Ngāti Ruanuku pā. Ngāti Ruanuku of Kōkai began fishing. As Ngāti Ruanuku awoke they her grandson Tū-te-huru-tea. Tū-te-huru-tea and Tokatea were not attacked by Tūwhakairiora saw what was happening and resented the liberty was the son of Tamaihu, the son of Rangitārewa, in the battle of Te Hiku Tawatawa, and survivors being taken by their guests. Led by their chief who was Materoa’s first husband. of that slaughter took refuge in Kōkai and Rangi-rākai-kura, Ngāti Ruanuku went down Upon hearing the news, Materoa responded, Tokatea. Pākānui and his group were invited to into the channels and demanded that Pākānui “Kua ea te wāhanga ki taku taina, Engari ko te stay by Ngāti Ruanuku, who had no cause to fear and company make way for them to cast their wāhi ki au, kei te toe. Mā wai e ngaki te wahanga them because of the women and children in their nets. Pākānui did not hesitate, withdrew his ki au? Mā taku mokopuna, mā Pākānui — My group. Pākānui was then able to observe Ngāti net and ordered his men to do the same. Too Te Poho-o-Materoa (The Bosom of Materoa) sister’s (Te Ātaakura) grief has been appeased, Ruanuku at close hand, all the while figuring engrossed in his own fishing by this stage, Rangi- meeting house at Whareponga Marae, with but mine has not. Who will end the pain that out a way to destroy them. They were grossly rākai-kura did not notice Pākānui lift his net in Kōkai in the background.