| [26899] | 1 | <html><head><title>Chief Kawiti talks peace at Pehiaweri</title></head><body><h2>Chief Kawiti talks peace at Pehiaweri</h2><p>Before the 1840's until his death in 1854, <em>Te Ruki Kawiti </em>was paramount chief throughout <em>Te Whare Kura </em>of the <em>Ngapuhi. </em>After the seige of <em>Ruapekapeka Pa </em>in 1846, he accompanied the remnants of his<em> Parawhau </em>tribe to their beautiful<em> pa, Pukepoto, </em>situated on a picturesque hill at<em> </em><em>Pehiaweri, </em>now known as <em>Glenbervie, </em>on the outskirts of <em>Whangarei. </em>Here in the morning sunshine, he delivered his famous message of peace in eloquent classical <em>Maori.</em></p><p><em>E te whanau, i te pakanga ahau ki te Atua i te po, heoi kihai ahau i mate. </em><em>Na reira, takahia te riri ki raro i 0 koutou waewae.</em> </p><p><em>Kia u ki te Whakapono, he poai pakeha koutou i muri nei.</em></p><p><em>Waiho kia kakati te namu i te wharangi 0 te pukapuka., hei konei ka tahuri atu ai. </em><em>Kei takahia e koutou, nga papa pounomu a 0 koutou tupuna e lakota nei. </em><em>Titiro atu ki nga taumata 0 te moana.</em><em> </em> </p><p><em><strong>Translated:</strong></em></p><p>"My illustrious warriors and people, I had war with God during the night, but I survived. Therefore I call upon you to suppress war under foot. Hold fast to the Christian faith, for the day will come when you will become labourers under your <em>Pakeha </em>friends. Await, therefore, until the sandfly nips the pages of the Book, (the Treaty). Then, and only then, shall you arise and oppose.Do not desecrate the<em> Papa Pounomu </em>(the Articles of the Treaty endorsed by your forebears).<em> </em>Look beyond the sea, to the transfiguration of the future."</p><p>When <em>Te Ruki Kawiti </em>died his cloak fell on the shoulders of <em>Maihi Paraone Kawiti, </em>the youngest of his three sons, the other two having fallen in battle. <em>Maihi </em>was a worthy successor to his famous father, and later was presented with the <em>"Rongomai </em>Seal" (lasting peace), which is now in the Waitangi Museum.</p><p>On his deathbed, <em>Maihi Kawiti </em>named <em>Hoterene, </em>his nephew, as paramount chief. Unfortunately, before <em>Hoterene </em>died in 1910, he did not appoint a successor, so though <em>Kaka Porowini </em>was an aspirant for the position, he was never really accepted as such. </p><p>It was not until <em>Kaka </em>died that <em>Te Riri Maihi Kawiti, </em>the second son of <em>Maihi Paraone Kawiti, </em>became the official leader of the tribes within the <em>Whare Kura </em>of the <em>Ngapuhi. </em>The <em>mana </em>of <em>Te Riri </em>was high in the eyes of both <em>Maori </em>and <em>Pakeha. His </em>people respected him for his great knowledge of tribal lore and genealogy, while his patriotic services to both peoples during World Wars I and 11 were recognised by an O.B.E. He died in 1964.</p><p><strong>Reference: Florence Keene, <em>Tai Tokerau</em>, Northland Room, Whangarei Library</strong></p></body></html> |
|---|
