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History and traditions of the Maoris of the West Coast, North Island of New Zealand, prior to 1840

Kurukuru-mahe fight. — (Circa 1420.)

Kurukuru-mahe fight.
(Circa 1420.)

It would appear that the Ati-Awa people had objected to the Taranaki tribe occupying Karaka-tonga, as they claimed that country right up to the top of the mountain. How long this objection had existed I know not, but the time arrived when Ati-Awa deemed thomselves strong enough to enforce their title by an appeal to arms, and therefore raised a war party—probably from the poople of Waitara and the adjacent inhabitants—and proceeded to eject Taranaki from Karaka-tonga. This party was under the leadership of Tama-wherokaka-ruku, Tama-where-kaka-nui, and Tu-whaka-momo-rangi, and they made their way through the forests up the course of the Waiwhakaiho until they approached the pa. Karaka-tonga at that time was held by the Taranaki chiefs, Tara-paoa, Kahu-kura-nui, Kahu-kura-roa, Kahu-kura-pirau, Kahu-kura-porewarewa, Tama-heia, and Awhi-papa (mentioned above). These chiefs led their people out of the pa and fought the Ati-Awa on a flat of the river banks not far from the pa, and from the fact of Taranaki using mahe (or stone fishing-net sinkers) to throw at the enemy, the fight is known as Kurukuru-mahe (pounded with sinkers). Te Ati-Awa appear to have been beaten in this fight, though they managed to kill Tama-heia,* one of the Taranaki chiefs, whose body they carried off with them, and at a place then called Marua, lying between Waiwhakaiho and page 188Manganui rivers, they consumed him after baking him in the ovens, even eating the soles (raparapa) of his feet; hence the name of that place became known as Kai-raparapa ever afterwards. My informant also added that Tama-heia's heart was eaten at a place called Kai-auahi, said to be "near the ascent to Pouakai ranges," but probably on the river called Kaiauai on the maps, but how it was Ati-Awa went that way back I know not, for it was quite out of their road. At any rate, the attacking party did not take Karaka-tonga pa; and in after years, when the Bell Block was purchased by the Government, 29th November, 1848, the sellers of that land, the Puketapu hapu of Ati-Awa acknowledged the former right of the Taranaki tribe to that and the adjacent country right up to Karaka-tonga by presenting the latter tribe with part of the payment.

It was from Karaka-tonga pa that Tahu-rangi, mentioned in the proceding list, ascended Mount Egmont, he being the first man to do so, says my informant, and he lit a fire on top to let people see that he had accomplished the climb and had taken possession. In after days, whenever the thin whisps of cloud are seen encircling the summit of the mountain and blowing away to leeward like smoke, the Taranaki people say "Ah! there is Tahu-rangi's fire!" (te ahi a Tahu-rangi). The sacrodness of Mount Egmont, which prevailed down to the middle of the nineteenth century, was probably due to the mountain being used as a place for the deposit of the bones of the dead. It has always been difficult to obtain the help of Maoris in ascending the mountain, for it was tapu.

* From the following words of a Taranaki song there appear to have been three of those mentioned on the page above also killed:—

Ka ngaro ki kona, ko Make-tuhiAnd died there also, Make-tuhi
Ko Make-hana, ko Make-taua,Make-haua, and Make-taua,
Ko to Kahui po—o—iWith the company of the dark ages