MAORI SETTLEMENT
(European Settlement)
There has been little written specifically about the
Maori settlement of Kaikoura Island, although it appears to have been a
politically important location in relation to the wider history of Aotea.
The first people on Aotea were reputed to be the Tutumaiao, Maewae or Turehu
people (MLC Minute Book 2 Taitokerau 1993). From the beginning of the 15th
century the island came to be occupied by iwi of Tainui descent. They were
known collectively as Ngati Tai and included Ngati Te Hauwhenua in the
north, Ngati Tai Manawa in the east. Ngati Te Wharau who were of Arawa and
Tainui descent occupied the south and west (Monin 199625-26 citing testimony
of Witi McMath in Aotea Motairehe transcript p.96, Murdoch pers. com.).
Ngati Te Wharau are reported to have lived on Kaikoura Island at this time
(Tatton 1994:37).
Ngati Wai
conquest and the ‘Maungarongo’
Ngati Wai’s mana
whenua originates from their conquest, and subsequent permanent occupation
from some time towards the end of the 17th century. Rehua, of Te Kawerau
descent, and his son Te Rangituangahuru came to Aotea and defeated Ngai Tai
in a series of engagements. The reason for this has been stated as utu for
the death of the daughter of the Ngati Manaia rangatira, Te Whaiti, at
Harataonga by Ngati Tai. It is also claimed that Rehua had earlier links
with Aotea through Hoturoa of the Tainui waka and Turi of the Aotea waka.
Following the defeat of Ngati Te Hauwhenua who were seen as responsible for
the death of Te Whaiti, Rehua settled in the Whangapoua area. An interim
peace settlement, or ‘Maungarongo’, was concluded at Kaikoura, and cemented
by marriages including that of Rangituangahuru to Rangiarua, the daughter of
the Ngati Te Wharau rangatira, Taihikingarangi, who lived on Kaikoura and
controlled the western coastline of Aotea. Ranginui of Ngati Wai also came
to Aotea and was gifted land. Some of his descendants remained on the island
and in time they intermarried with those of Rehua and the two groups came
together as Ngati Wai ki Aotea.
Ngati Te Wharau
and Ngati Tai remained on Aotea until the peace with Ngati Wai was broken by
the killing of Rehua by Te Mataa of Ngati Tai at Rakitu Island on the east
coast. Te Mataa fled to the Alderman Islands, but Taihikingarangi and the
remaining Ngati Tai and Ngati Te Wharau were at this point completely driven
from Aotea by Rangituangahuru with the assistance of his Kawerau relatives
from Mahurangi and Ngati Manaia, the tribal grouping that later became known
as Ngati Wai (Tatton 1994:39; Monin 1996:26). Rangituangahuru and the other
descendants of Rehua became Ngati Rehua and settled throughout the land (MLC
Minute Book 21 Taitokerau 1993).
Ngati Rehua
settlement on Kaikoura
It has been
suggested that following expulsion of Ngati Tai settlement concentrations on
Aotea shifted from east to west coast (Tatton 1994:128). Although a few
Marutuahu iwi and Ngati Naunau in particular intermarried and lived
periodically on the southern coast of Aotea with Ngati Rehua, Kaikoura and
the surrounding area were solely occupied by Ngati Rehua.
While
cultivations were maintained on the island, Kaikoura was considered
relatively infertile, and a greater value placed on the seafood resources as
evidenced in the island’s name (Kaikoura meaning ‘to consume crayfish’). Pa
were constructed on Kaikoura island and named Motukaraka and Pahangahou
(Murdoch pers. com).
Battle of
Aotea 1838
The last
significant inter-tribal battle on Aotea occurred in 1838 when a Ngati
Kahungungu led one (contingent) of 120 warriors under the command of Te
Mauparaoa, stopped to reprovision at Aotea after concluding a peace with
Ngapuhi in the Bay of Islands. With most of the men away harvesting mutton
birds at Motu Okokewa, Hauturu and Pokohinu, Ngati Kahungungu entered and
raided Te Mariri’s pa at Kawa near Motairehe. Te Mariri requested assistance
from his Ngati Naunau relatives and also to Horeta Te Taniwha of Ngati
Whanaunga. Horeta Te Taniwha obliged by assembling a ope taua of Marutuahu
forces to assist Ngati Rehua. Horeta Te Taniwha’s forces defeated Te
Mauparaoa’s ope at Te Parekura, near Whangapoua, but not without significant
losses.
