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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]

The Maoris and The Colonists

The Maoris and The Colonists.

So far as the natives were concerned the early settlers in Hawke's Bay had very little cause for complaint. Even in the very early days when the Maoris far outnumbered the white settlers, the natives were almost always friendly. In 1837 there was a fierce tribal quarrel between Te Hapuhu and Moananui, the leading chiefs of the district. But though a number of natives lost their lives through the feud, both parties frequently protested their friendship for the pakehas, and their determination on no account to injure the white settlers. Moananui and his followers finally secured possession of the extremely valuable Ahuriri plains; but neither they nor their defeated rivals made any attempt to molest the Europeans. It was not till the Hauhau rebellion and the descent of Te Kooti on the East Coast that the Maoris and the whites in Hawke's Bay came into conflict.

Shortly after the Hauhau religion was set up by Te Ua, two prophets or missionaries, Patara of Taranaki and Kereopa of the Ara-was, were sent to preach the new faith among the tribes of the Bay of Plenty district and the East Coast. Kereopa, who was a sanguinary fanatic, murdered Mr. Volkner, a well known missionary, at Opotiki, apparently with the object of committing his followers to an inexpiable war with the pakehas. He then went on to ward Poverty Bay to stir up the native tribes, and thither he was followed by the more peaceful Patara, who desired to prevent further violence. Meantime an expeditionary force under Colonel McDonnell had come up from the west coast to Opotiki, and exacted some punishment for the Hauhau outrages. But meanwhile Kereopa had made good use of his time on the East Coast, and converted several tribes to the faith of Pai Marire. Apparently only the intervention of Patara saved Bishop Williams and his family from a murderous attack. Patara himself, however, won over the Waiapu, Ngatiporou and the Hicks Bay and Kawakawa tribes to the Hauhau creed. But happily there were several notable exceptions; and Ropata, Mokena Kohere, and Hotene Porourangi, all distinguished chiefs, determined to hold by the pakehas. Henare Potae, of Tokomaru, also kept faith with the whites; and if it had not been for the fidelity and courage of these chiefs the British troops would have had to face at least 2000 Maoris around Wairoa and Poverty Bay. The Ngatiporou alone could muster at least 1000 warriors, and
Hot Bath. Nuhaka.

Hot Bath. Nuhaka.

page 287 it must be remembered that General Cameron and General Chute seldom had to deal with more than 400 or 500 Maoris at any one time. As matters turned out, the Europeans were more than able to hold their own, and the storming of the Hungahungatoroa pa by Ropata and Major Biggs, effectually crushed the rebellion so far as the Waiapu tribes were concerned.

Kereopa by this time had worked through the country down to Poverty Bay, and in 1868 he had gained such a hold over the natives that Bishop Williams and his family were obliged to retire to Napier for safety. Mr. McLean urged upon the notice of the Government the importance of the movement in its early stages, and Majors Biggs and Fraser were ordered to march on Poverty Bay, with the co-operation of the Ngatiporou chiefs Ropata and Mokena. Wacrenga — a — heka, a strong pa, was stormed, though bravely defended by the Hauhaus, and large numbers of prisoners were taken. At this juncture we first meet the notorious Te Kooti, who, though professedly friendly to the whites, was accused of intriguing with the Hauhaus. A little later he was shipped off to the Chatham Islands along with the worst characters from the Waiapu and Poverty Bay tribes. It is quite possible that there was no real ground for the charges brought against him. In any case he was deported without trial, seemingly on the general pretext that he was a troublesome and daring man, a professional thief and blackmailer. But whatever may have been the degree of his guilt, it is certain that the atrocities afterwards committed by him and his followers in this district, were inspired by a desire for vengeance against those who had sent him into exile.

During 1865–66 there was a good deal of trouble with the Wairoa tribe—a branch of the great Ngatikahungunu family. Kopu Para-para, one of the bravest chiefs, fortunately remained faithful to the English, while the skill and courage of Ropata were as usual of immense service to his white friends. A large body of native, including Uriwera, to the number of 500, gathered together at Waikaremoana, the lake on the border of Tuhoeland, now so famous for its picturesque scenery. They were defeated through the resourcefulness and valour of Ropata; and Tuatini, one of the old generation of chiefs, who had once ruled over the whole East Coast, was among the slain.

Ta Hia Na Kota Falls, Waikare-Moana.

Ta Hia Na Kota Falls, Waikare-Moana.

So far as the East Coast was concerned, the trouble with the Maoris for some years centered round the tribes connected with the Opotiki outrages, and the murder of Mr. Volkner. The Ngati-ira hapu, which was accused of complicity in this crime, once formed a formidable tribe, having held all the country then possessed by the Ngatiporous. The Poverty Bay tribes and the Uriwera were their kinsmen, and the sympathy shown for them along the East Coast rendered it necessary to send an expedition against them. Colonel Lyon and Captain Newland succeeded in breaking up the Hauhau forces, and recapturing most of the booty taken from the Opotiki settlers. A long series of desultory skirmishes followed, but ultimately the Uriwera were driven back into their own inaccessible country, and troubled the Europeans no more till 1868, when Te Kooti once more came upon the scene.

In July, 1868, the schooner “Rifleman” called at the Chatham Islands with Government stores for the use of the 200 Maori prisoners, who were then interned on the islands under the supervision of Captain Thomas and fifteen men. Te Kooti and his followers suddenly seized the arms and ammunition of their guards, overpowered the crew, and captured the ship. They behaved with kindness to the women and children, and killed only one man who offered resistance. On the 5th the vessel started under her new masters for the New Zealand coast. On the 10th they landed a little to the south of Poverty Bay, and disembarked the provisions, guns and powder with which the “Rifleman” was loaded. Major Biggs, the Resident Magistrate of the district, advanced against them with a force of volunteers and friendly natives, but found them too strongly posted to admit of a successful attack. The Hauhaus then retreated inland into rough country, and Major Biggs, pursuing them, was repulsed with loss at Paparatu. Colonel Whitmore had been summoned from Wangamu on the news of Te Kooti's escape, and he now took command, leading his men a desperate chase over very rough country in pursuit of the agile and lightly encumbered Hauhaus. One division of his force, under Captain Richardson, was beaten at Te Konahi, while Coloel Whitmore, following too closely and incautiously on the Hauhaus, was page 288 driven back with loss at Ruakituri.

These successes naturally increased Te Kooti's “mana,” and brought him many recruits. He gave out that he intended to advance toward the Waikato and dethrone the King. But in the mean-time he had resolved to exact vengeance from the pakehas of the district for their share in his deportation. His followers murdered a young Wairoa chief and several of his men, and the friendly natives—600 Ngatiporou and Ngatikahungunu—gathered to attack the Hauhaus. But Te Kooti easily evaded them, and advanced rapidly toward Poverty Bay. In spite of the fact that prisoners were captured who revealed the intentions of the Hauhaus, no message was sent to Poverty Bay to warn the settlers. When rumours of the coming danger did eventually reach the district, Major Biggs refused to countenance any serious preparation for defence. The military men on the spot all seem to have argued that Te Kooti would never advance on Poverty Bay, because he would thus leave his rear exposed. But they had soon to learn that Maoris had no particular respect for British military traditions. On the 9th of November, Te Kooti came down on the unprotected settlement, and almost without opposition murdered in cold blood thirty-seven friendly natives and thirty-three whites—men, women, and children.

The news of this atrocious crime aroused the authorities to resolute action, and within a fortnight a body of 600 friendly natives and whites were again in pursuit of Te Kooti. The Hauhaus were defeated with loss at Karetu, and thence they retired to the almost inaccessible stronghold of Ngatapa. An attack was made on this position by Ropata with the Ngatiporou, but it failed; and Te Kooti, after defending himself for some time against Ropata and Colonel Whitmore, eventually escaped. Over 120 of his followers were killed, and that portion of the East Coast was cleared of the Hauhaus. Te Kooti subsequently appeared among the Uriweras, and persuaded them to join with him in a raid towards Mohaka in the Hawke's Bay district. It this expedition he killed seven Europeans, and fifty-seven friendly natives, losing only twelve of his own men. As Lieutenant Gudgeon says in his “Remminscences of the War,” nothing in the history of these campaigns is more remarkable than the ascendancy that Te Kooti exercised over the Maori mind and in spite of numerous defeats and losses he could always depend upon finding some of the tribes ready to do his bidding. After an arduous march to Lake Waikare-Moana the colonial forces drove him further back into the Uriwera country. He made an other foray on the East Coast in the direction of Tolago Bay; and the indefatigable Ropata conducted another unsuccessful march in pursuit of the Haunaus, right up to the borders of Tuhoeland. In 1872 a fourth expedition set out from Poverty Bay under Captain Porter in pursuit of Te Kooti, and after suffering great hardships succeeded in surprising the lebel chief at Ruahapu. But here again To Kooti eluded his pursuers, escaping with only nine men. He finally sought refuge in the Waikato with the King party; and with this disappearance ends all strife between Maoris and Europeans on the East Coast or in the Hawke's Bay district.

Donne Falls, Waikare-Moana.

Donne Falls, Waikare-Moana.

But though the native difficulty was thus definitely settled so far as active hostilities between the races were concerned, there was endless trouble over a question much more difficult to decide—the ownership of the native lands. From the outset the Maoris objected strongly to the incursions of the pakehas' cattle on their preserves; and “grass money,” or fee for trespass, was an early source of trouble. Under the terms of the original land settlement, the leasing of native lands was forbidden; but it was difficult for the colonists to gain any firm foothold in the country without either buying or leasing land; and even the officials appointed to check the practice, connived at these illegalities. Many abuses resulted from these evasions of the law. The lessees lent money on mortgage to their landlords. The natives were reckless and extravagant. In many cases they became deeply involved, and so the land passed into the hands of tenants. There was no doubt that such proceedings were based on direct violation of the law, and many sales were on these grounds subsequently repudiated. In 1861 the “Hawke's Bay Times” was started chiefly to protest against these breaches of the law with respect to land tenure. But though it stuck vigorously to its self-imposed task, the chief offenders were high in office and social rank, public opinion was hard to rouse, and in 1874 the paper was discontinued. “The Acts of the page 289 Apostles”—a satire on the syndicate of twelve speculators then engaged in securing the valuable Heretaunga block—appeared in its columns, and forms an instructive commentary on a very interesting phase of colonial history. By 1873 the Native Lands difficulty had reached so acute a stage that a Royal Commission was appointed to investigate it. This body sat for some time in Napier, and collected a large amount of evidence; but the general outcome of its deliberations was that it would be on the whole more equitable to recognise the land titles acquired through illegal leasing, than to repudiate them. Naturally enough, this decision was very distasteful to those settlers who had conscientiously refused to take any part in the illegal traffic in native lands; and it could hardly fail to rouse resentment in the hearts of those Maoris who believed they were being dispossessed of their lands by legal trickery. Many leading public men espoused the cause of the natives, and much bitter feeling was roused by the controversy. In 1875 Mr. Sheehan moved in the House of Representatives a resolution to the effect that “this House regrets to hear of the scandalous and dishonest dealings of certain Europeans in the acquisition of native lands at Hawke's Bay, and of the fact that high officers of the Government have either been connected therewith or cognisant thereof.” The reference was more particularly to the purchase of the Heretaunga block in which Mr. Ormond and Mr. Donald McLean, who had both been Superintendents of the Province, were largely concerned. Mr. Sheehan asked the House to declare that “it considers such transactions a stain on the good name of the colony.” He descanted with great warmth on the fact that after the Crown had waived its right of purchase from the natives, they had been inveigled by various artifices into the surrender of their rights. He asserted that signatures had been extorted from the Maoris, and that many of them had been persuaded to sell on condition of being released from debt. The loyalchief HenareTomoana had undertaken the pursuit of Te Kooti, and had thus incurred heavy liabilities; and he had been persuaded to sell his land so as to cancel his obligations. Karaitiana Tokomoana, half — brother to the chief—and co-owner with him, had
Onepoto Bridge, Waikare-Moana.

Onepoto Bridge, Waikare-Moana.

page 290 strenuously resisted the sale. Tokomoana himself who was a member of the House, assured Parliament that he would carry his appeal to England rather than give up his rights; and he declared emphatically that the Maoris would prefer to be destroyed themselves rather than have their lands taken from them. Happily the bitterness that then estranged the two races as a result of these unfortunate disputes, and the unscrupulous greed died out. The natives in Hawke's Bay district are on the best of terms with the Europeans; and in no other district are there so many wealthy Maori landlords drawing substantial incomes from the lands that they have preserved as their national inheritance from their forefathers.