Relations Between Ngati Makino and Other Hapu of Ngati Pikiao In
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OFFICIAL RESEARCH REPORT RELATIONS BETWEEN NGATI MAKINO AND OTHER HAPU OF NGATI PIKIAO IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY Tom Bennion April 1996 CONTENTS Page Summary 2 Maps of the Rotoiti block 4-5 Preface 5 Introduction 5 The choice of the Rotoiti case 7 Approach to the minute books 7 Overview of the case 12 The nature of Ngati Makino 14 Preliminary meetings concerning the Rotoiti and Otamarakau blocks 18 The ancestral IItakell advanced 25 Evidence of resource use 32 Burials 34 The final--process of putting Ngati Makino into the block 36 Conclusions 38 Ngati Makino - Ngati Pikiao report 2 Summary This report looks at the relationship between Ngati Makino and other hapu of Ngati Pikiao as evidenced in proceedings before the Native Land Court in the last century. The major question which it seeks to answer is: whether or not most of Ngati Makino's traditional land interests were confined to the Waitahanui and Tahunaroa subdivisions of the great Otamarakau block, so that, after the sale of those subdivisions, Ngati Makino were deprived of a substantial part of their hapu endowment, in contrast to other hapu of Ngati Pikiao. A former officer of the Maori Land Court in Rotorua, Harris Martin, has looked for prominent Ngati Makino names appearing in applicatiohs before the court, and in the final lists of owners produced by the court. His findings show that, unquestionably, names of persons identifying as Ngati Makino did appear in ownership lists for several blocks inland of Otamarakau, and that they retained ownership of their interests for many years after the sale of the Otamarakau block. The report also investigates, whether Ngati Makino received their full entitlement to these inland blocks. In other words, while they were awarded some areas in the name of the ancestor put forward on behalf of Ngati Makino, in some cases their claim was rejected. Was it properly rejected? Or, were Ngati Makino kept out of inland blocks rightfully theirs by other groups within Ngati Pikiao jealous about their influence? An answer to this question was attempted by looking at the extensive minutes for the Rotoiti block, which came before the land court in 1899-1900. From those minutes, this report concludes that: • Ngati-Makino were variously described as a distinct group called Waitaha, a hapu of Waitaha, and as a hapu of Ngati Pikiao. The identification seems to have varied depending on whether the speaker wished to show distinctions within Ngati Pikiao or not. They were undoubtedly for most purposes regarded as a powerful hapu of the broad Ngati Pikiao confederation of hapu. • For the purpose of claims to land, individuals might validly claim to belong to several different hapu. Some individuals in relation to particular blocks of land were called "takawaenga" because no one ancestor or hapu interest predominated. However, outside of particular land claims, it was know that individuals had a primary hapu identification, referred to as their "tino hapu" or "tuturu hapu". It seems that, where possible, individuals preferred to bring land claims in the name of their primary hapu. Holding land under the name of the primary hapu and ancestor seems to have accorded greater control in terms-of Maori custom and law. Ngati Makino - Ngati Pikiao report 3 • In relation to the Otamarakau block, Ngati Makino were successful in having the Waitahanui subdivision put through the court in the name of the primary ancestor of the Ngati Makino hapu. There were however valid interests of other hapu of Ngati Pikiao in that subdivision. These were represented in the name Ngati Te Kehu. Ngati Makino made private arrangements outside the court to include Ngati Te Kehu names. In this way it seems that other hapu of Ngati Pikiao did have and secured interests in the Waitahanui subdivision of the Otamarakau block. In the Tahunaroa subdivision, Ngati Pikiao appear also to have secured interests under the name of the ancestor Uruika. • In relation to the Rotoiti block, Ngati Makino had originally attempted to include it in an application to determine title for all land from the inland lakes to the coast, under the name of Ngati Pikiao. Later, Ngati Makino tried to have a block, covering the area of what later became the Rotoiti block, surveyed under the name of Matawhaura. They accepted a ruling from the rest of Ngati Pikiao that they should not do this, in part because Ngati Makino were living at the coast and no longer actively used their inland properties. • Six hapu of Ngati Pikiao then had the Rotoiti block surveyed and made an application to the land court. Ngati Makino were not a part of this application in their own right. Ngati Makino were however informed of the application. The intention was to take account of their interests under the names of some of the six hapu making the application. The reasons for this approach appear to have been: the six hapu argued that Ngati Makino interests in the Rotoiti block were not very strong because they had not lived there for some years Ngati Makino had suggested that the whole block be put in in the name of Ngati Makino, but this had been rejected. • White-the six hapu appear never to have denied that Ngati Makino had some rights in the Rotoiti block, it seems that they actively sought to minimise those rights in making the application and pursuing it in the way that they did. Certainly the final court award was more generous to Ngati Makino than the application filed by the six hapu. • In the event, Ngati Makino, under Ereatara Rangihoro, launched a powerful claim before the court to the whole of the Rotoiti block. This claim was ultimately rejected, but the court readily accepted, and Ngati Makino seem to have agreed to, more limited rights in parts of the block. One subdivision, Okahu, was awarded in the name of the Ngati Makino hapu. In two other subdivisions, Ngati Makino were awarded distinct blocks of shares, albeit that the subdivisions were awarded under the name of the ancestor of another hapu. In reaching its decision the court rejected large parts of Ereatara's evidence and preferred the evidence of older and less obviously biased witnesses such as Tieri te Tikiao. Ngati Makino - Ngati Pikiao report 4 • Whether this decision gave Ngati Makino less than their entitlement in Maori custom is difficult to say. However, several factors suggest the decision was probably to a fair degree in accord with what the hapu might have agreed among themselves: the Rotoiti case was brought before several preliminary tribal meetings " and Ngati Makino's extensive claims to the block were rejected outright; Ngati Makino evidence was thoroughly tested in cross examination by the other hapu of Ngati Pikiao, and found to be in conflict with evidence given in earlier years before the land court; Ngati Makino witnesses, in particular Ereatara Rangihoro, made admissions about Ngati Makino interests in the Otamarakau block and about Ngati Makino activities in the 2 decades preceding the Rotoiti case (ie the 1880s and 1890s), which suggested their rights in the Rotoiti block were not extensive, and certainly did not extend to the whole Rotoiti block; During the court hearing, Ngati Makino reached voluntary arrangements with other hapu of Ngati Pikiao over parts of the block, which seems to have been a tacit admission that Ngati Makino rights were not as extensive as were claimed; After the initial decision of the court, Ngati Makino actively lobbied for inclusion in lists of owners for several divisions, which were determined by hapu committees, and indicated satisfaction with the inclusions that were made; Ngati Makino never appealed the decision of the court, even though there are indications that they contemplated an appeal during the - proceedings. 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