- MD
136: Who really are the indigenous people of NZ?
Since 2016 we suggested in various articles, that when Polynesians first arrived they found scattered groups already here. Most of that came from old publications based on discussions with Maori from as early as 1820. Much of that material has disappeared from official record but there are still examples one can find if they look hard enough. We think it quite plausible that small groups existed here before Polynesians arrived. Tools, designs, stories, skeletal remains and even old Maori legends provide some information that is worth investigating. However, if it were true, would Maori want that known? Some we talk to say yes, and some say a definate no. There are many from differing tribes who say they always knew they were not the first here.
Here are a few extracts from both modern and old publications for you to consider...
1. From Paraone Gloyne - The Blade of the club of Raukawa
In the past, Ngāti Kahupungapunga inhabited the lands of Te Kaokaoroa-oPātetere, which encompassed Wharepūhunga and Te Pae o Raukawa. According to history, this was a native tribe who came here long before the arrival of the Tainui canoe.
2. Pohaturoa - NZH 2001
The first people believed to have arrived in the region, says Perry Fletcher, are known as the Tini o Toi. "That was just a loose name for these ancient people. They were spread throughout the country from one of the original peoples - you had Kupe and you had Toi," he says. Some say that Arawa explorer Tia came there and his children lived in the area, but the first people known to occupy Pohaturoa were a people of mystery, the Kahupungapunga. None can say where they came from, and in a final stand at Pohaturoa 400 years ago they were cut down like today's pines, suffering what the Waitangi Tribunal called "their final extinction as a tribal identity." (They were cut down by those we today call Maori.)
3. teara.govt.nz
The first inhabitants, Ngāti Kahupungapunga, were supplanted by Tainui tribes before the 16th century. These peoples – Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Wairere, Ngāti Hauā and Ngāti Korokī – still own lands on the slopes. Another Tainui tribe, Ngāti Maru, lived at Maungatautari in the 19th century.
4. http://www.maungatautarimarae.co.nz
During this period Ngāti Kahupungapunga had many settlements along the Waikato River, including Karapiro. Towards the end of this century a Ngāti Kahupungapunga chief, Parahore, married a great-granddaughter of Turongo, Korokore. “She apparently considered that she had married beneath her station. In any event she became so domineering that finally, when she ordered her husband to make a gift of preserved birds to her relatives, he turned upon her and silenced her forever with a blow of his war club.” Korokore’s slave escaped and conveyed the news to Whaita, Korokore’s brother. Whaita, with the help of his uncle Takihiku and cousins Tamatehura, Wairangi, Upokoiti and Pipito, exacted utu on the Ngāti Kahupungapunga. Battles were fought at Te Arowhenua, Te Pohue, Takaahiahi and Hapenui, which cleared the western side of the Waikato. On the eastern side Ngāti Kahupungapunga were relentlessly pursued and pa were captured at Piraunui, Hokio, Pawaiti and Puketotara along what is now Lake Arapuni. The last battle was fought at Pohaturoa, known today as Atiamuri Rock, on Lake Whakamaru, which Tainui besieged until the defenders were starved out and immediately killed. Tainui hapu took over the lands of the Ngāti Kahupungapunga.
5. maori.org.nz
Ngati Kahupungapunga to my knowledge are dead today. The oral tradition that I know about them explains that their ancestor was related to Hoturoa in Tahiti and they had only arrived two generations before Tainui.
6. jps.auck.ac.nz
The genealogy I have given of Tamahina is also that of the ancient people of Ohura and Taumarunui, who were originally known as Ngati-Ruatipua, but who now call themselves Ngati-Hāua. The ancestors of these people are well known by their descendants to have been in occupation of the Whanganui river and the adjacent country when Turi arrived in the Aotea canoe, and even when Paoa came in the Horouta canoe. From our knowledge of the characteristics of the tangata whenua of New Zealand, it is not to be supposed for one moment that this tribe derived their courage and mana from Ruatipua, but the inter-marriages with the descendants of Turi and Paoa has in this instance produced a race of singular courage. Though few in numbers at all times, yet the great tribe of Ngati-Maniapoto never prevailed against them, indeed it was generally defeated, and the descendants of Ruatipua can alone perhaps of all the ancient tribes boast that they are an Iwi Rangatira.
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To many it is obvious that people existed here, at least before Aotea and the Tainui canoes arrived. That proves, at least, that the migration canoes were not first. So where did the real tangata whenua come from and how long were they here? Are the legends true? We haven't got into our cave yet so we are unable to provide absolute proof as we are still digging. But we have learned of the existence of evidence that would shock many, and even with our reputation, those in the know are cagey about letting us see them. They do not have to, but the way we are going to present our extra tall skeletal evidence is such that they probably need us to. If they have proff and won't present it, then maybe they don't have the proof? Regardless, here's another two examples to prove Polynesians were not first. There is not another single example of naything like this from Polynesia. So where did the designs come from. The one on the left has strong Melanesian connections.
7. http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz
It is not known for certain how or when the mid-East Coast districts of the North Island of this Dominion first came to be peopled. That members of the race designated “Maoris” were not the original inhabitants is, however, stated by all investigators to be a positive fact. According to most authorities one or more types of people made their abode in these parts prior to the major Maori migration which, it is claimed, took place, roughly, about 1350 A.D. Kupe and Ngahue were, it seems, the first Polynesians, according to Maori history, to visit New Zealand. Their visit was made around 950 A.D. and, from all accounts, none of their people settled in this country as a result of these voyages.
8. Wikipedia - Tainui
The Tainui iwi share a common ancestry from Polynesian migrants who arrived in New Zealand on the Tainui waka, which voyaged across the Pacific Ocean from Hawaiki to Aotearoa (North Island) approximately 800 years ago. According to Pei Te Hurinui Jones, the Tainui historian, Tainui first entered the Waikato about 1400 bringing with them kumara plants. By about 1450 they had conquered the last of the indigenous people in a battle at Atiamuri.
9. jps.auck.ac.nz
Other accounts of Turi's death differ somewhat. Tautahi told me that his son Turanga-i-mua was a great warrior, and that he and the priest Kauika proceeded to the north on a war expedition, and on the Auckland Isthmus—then called Tamaki—defeated the Wai-o-Hua tribe in a great battle called Te One-potakataka. After that they returned homeward by the East Coast, and near Manawatu Gorge fought a great battle with the tangata whenua or original inhabitants, where Turanga-i-mua was killed and buried, but his bones were subsequently taken to Patea.
10. Nga Iwi O Tainui (translated)
Tautahi told me that his son Turanga-i-mua was a great warrior, and that he and the priest Kauika went to the north on a war expedition, and on the Auckland Isthmus-then called Tamaki-defeated the Wai-o-Hua tribe in a great battle called Te One-potakataka. After that they returned homeward by the East Coast, and near Manawatu Gorge fought a great battle with the man of the land - or original original inhabitants, where Turanga-i-mua was killed and buried, but his bones were subsequently taken to Patea.
The hill at Atiamuri
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The above are just stories some will say. Yes, told by Maori. And if these (verbal) stories aren't believable, we can be selective in our doubt of many other (verbal) accounts from Maori too. But regardless, stories are trumped by truth; in this case physical evidence. That is our task.
Most interesting to note is that no one from the ancient legends are mentioned as being a tall race (8' tall). Only references to the Kahui Tipua suggest tall stature, but they are supposed to be ogres, beasts - not men. Maybe the ones in the stories above eliminated the ones we are looking for? In that case they may be very ancient and had clubs very different to Melanesians or Polynesians as shown above - of which both were found in NZ. Not exactly Polynesian like are they? And with good reason. They aren't!
There is always the possibility that while we expect most of NZ to be shocked if we find 8' tall (possible Melanesian origin) skeletons in that cave, we may be shocked ourselves from what is actually in there. Time will tell, but the time is drawing nearer.
