WĀHI HIRA
SIGNIFICANT SITES
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Wāhi Hira.mp4WĀHI HIRA - SIGNIFICANT SITES
WĀHI HIRA - SIGNIFICANT SITES
Hauraki has multiple sites of significance throughout its rich history. We are to this day still proud of these significant landmarks wich continue to celebrate our culture and our past. The interview above speaks to some of these events that are still shared to this day Also mentioned below are a only a few acknowledgments and examples of the great history of Ngāti Maru and the various hapū of this iwi. The Flight of Kopū, Totara Pā, Te Wai Weruweru and our Matariki Celebrations are past and current examples of significant sites that are within the whenua of our hapū. Commemeration of these events are annualy in our yearly Hautapu ki Hauraki or Matariki ki Mātai Whetū.
Totara Pā - Te Waiweruweru
This battle was called "Te Waiweruweru,"
Totara Pā - Te Waiweruweru
This battle was called "Te Waiweruweru,"
Matene Te Nga died at Kirikiri, Thames, on December 27th, 1899. This remarkable old Maori man was probably the last survivor and eye-witness of the events which occurred when the Totara Pa, on the left bank of the Waihou or Thames River, was taken by the warlord Hongi Hika, in 1821. He remembered the pa being attacked some years before by a united war party of Ngapuhi and Ngati Paoa, under the noted chief Te Hinaki. On that occasion a very great multitude, mostly women and children, were shut up in the fort, and, their water supply being cut off, they were in extremis till a band of sixty or seventy young warriors from within the pa clothed themselves in their thickest mats and sallied forth. Fighting their way through the enemy, they reached what was then a deep pool at the foot of a small waterfall called Te Korokoro-o-Tuhukea. After plunging into the water, they fought all the way back to the pa, which they regained in somewhat diminished numbers, and, hastily throwing off their mats, wrung the precious moisture into the parched mouths of the perishing women and children. This battle was called "Te Waiweruweru," or the battle of the dripping garments.
The fall of Te Totara Pa in 1821
The fall of Te Totara Pa in 1821
In March 1820 Hongi Hika had departed for England with Thomas Kendall to procure supplies of muskets. While in England he met King George and was given many presents which he later converted into cash to buy guns and powder while in Sydney. He returned home in July 1821 and in less than two months he called for a campaign of death and destruction to gain utu for Waiwhariki. It is said that in September, 1821, a vast fleet of waka taua left the Bay of Islands and stopped in the Whangarei harbour to be joined by many more. They left Whangarei Terenga Paraoa with approx 2,000 warriors, 1,000 of whom were armed with muskets. Certainly Hongi is credited as being the leader of the campaign but no doubt there was a cabal of rangatira chiefs who each held their own authority. After attacking a settlement at Te Waiti (Wade River in Silverdale) the Ngapuhi taua proceeded to the Tamaki area, where they laid siege to Mokoia and Mau-inaina, the fortified pa of Ngati Paoa (in the area of Panmure, Auckland). After a protracted siege the Ngapuhi finally overcame the pa and it is said that 1,000 Ngati Paoa were slain. Ngapuhi then turned their attention to Te Totara pa, the strongly fortified position of the Ngati Maru. The pa occupied the seaward end of a long spur coming down from the wooded mountains and ending in a steep face bound on the mangrove-lined banks of the Waihou or Thames river. The old earth ramparts of the pa, are still to be seen, and show that it was one of great strength in its day. There were not many of the Ngati-Maru tribe, however, in the pa at the time of its fall, though there were several people of other tribes. Here is an account of the siege by the Ngapuhi confederation. Ngapuhi assaulted Te Totara pa, but found it impregnable even with their many muskets.They were two days and one night trying to take it with no success. The Ngapuhi rangatira finding that he could not take the pa by assault, then sought to make peace with the people of the pa. A group of the highest delegation met with Ngati Maru to make peace and included the rangatira of the various hapu including - Te Koki, Whiwhia, Te Whareumu, Kawiti, Mataroria, Kopeka, Te Heke, Mahanga, Kukupa, Te Ihi, Tareha, Kaiteke, Te Hakiro, Te Morenga, Toretumua, Te Ururoa, Te Wharerahi, Moka, Rewa, Manu, Kahe, Whai, Wharepoaka, Te Nganga, Te Toru, Nga-ure, Te Awa, Te Kahakaha and Muriwai. On their arrival at the pa they delivered their message. The Ngati Maru chiefs Te Puhi and Te Aka agreed to this peace and soon everything had been arranged. Te-Aka presented the famous mere named Te Uira, and Te Puhi gave his mere named Tutae-o-Maui to Nga-Puhi in order to cement the peace. Hongi himself remained in their camp at Te Amo-o-te-rangi with the main body of the taua. When the rangatira returned, they confirmed that peace had been made. When Hongi heard the news he at once commanded his toa to launch their canoes as if they were heading home but it was all deceit on his part. At that time, Pomare and Kawiti returned home with their sections because they were aware that Hongi’s designs were treacherous and they did not approve of this. When the main body of Ngapuhi reached Tararu, about five miles from Te Totara, they landed there to await darkness. From Tararu they returned in the night to Te Totara, and entered the pa without opposition, none of Ngati-Maru being on guard, as they believed the peace just made was a true one, and, moreover, they had witnessed Nga-Puhi’s apparent departure towards home. In consequence of this, the pa was taken with many meeting their deaths and hundreds being taken captive, to be returned to the north.
MATARIKI AT MĀTAI WHETŪ MARAE
MATARIKI AT MĀTAI WHETŪ MARAE
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