Ko Hea Toku Ara

The following patere (chant) has been composed to mark the opening of the new kitchen at Kaputuhi Pa.  It recalls Ngati Kaputuhi whakapapa as descendents of the Tainui canoe and the Ngati Maniapoto tribe.  The patere has been inspired by Dr Pei Te Hurinui Jones’ recording and translation of Ngoki’s chant – Taku Ara i a Turongo.  I have followed a similar style of ‘free translation’, employing poetic license and borrowing from Jones in several parts.

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By what pathway did I descend? ‘Twas that of Hoturoa And sprung forth from the origins of Hawaiki. So stand thee there o Hotu, at the helm of your canoe, Tainui Whilst I proudly acknowledge your descendents, The source of the people. ‘Tis Hotuope, Hotumatapu And Motai-tangata-rau. Keeping steadfast to the pathway, ‘Tis Ue, Rakamaomao, Kakati, And the exalted one, Tawhao. Tawhao begat Turongo; He proceeded to the land of the sunrise And found none other than Mahinaarangi! From that exquisite abode, came forth the great Raukawa! Raukawa begat Rereahu; And Rereahu begat my chieftain, Maniapoto! A  man of great renown, His fame is known by the myriads, by the thousands And I applaud thee: I aha ha! Tamaki above, Mokau below, ‘Tis Te Kawairirangi, ‘tis Rungaterangi; Rungaterangi begat Maniaopetini And Maniaopetini begat Taitengahue. Amidst the crowded pathway of the brave Can I but claim direct lineage. From my countless lines of descent from Raukawa Let me pronounce the name of Kurawari And trace the path Matangi, Tahakoke and Whakikauia. A line of contention for Te Kanawa To be pondered by the descendants. Whakikauia begat Kaputuhi Whom sort Taitengahue as a sleeping-mate. From this alliance was born the ancestor Parekura; ‘Twas her who gave the water to sustain my sub-tribe.   This is the pathway firmly imprinted within me And embodied in the house, Kaputuhi; Thus stand thee there, o Lady, whilst I enter thy house Seen by my elders in times of old at Waikeria and Te Kawa, Here you now stand at Hangatiki; Guarded by Taitengahue above, All do but trace to thy daughter Parekura, There facing to cry the call of welcome. There’s my boast, and again I applaud: I aha ha!

Explanatory Notes:

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2.     Hoturoa was the Captain of the Tainui canoe which journeyed from Hawaiki and finally settled at Kawhia.

3.     Hawaiki is the ancestral homeland of the Maori, prior to their arrival in Aotearoa.

14.   Mahinaarangi was a high-born female of the East Coast.   Through her, the people of Tainui are able to whakapapa to the tribes of the East Coast.

15.   Raukawa is the eponymous ancestor of the Ngati Raukawa tribe.

17.   Maniapoto is the eponymous ancestor of the Ngati Maniapoto people.

21.   According to tradition, Te Kawairirangi was killed at Tamaki and Rungaterangi at Mokau, hence the saying ‘Mokau ki runga, Tamaki ki raro’.  The full Tainui pepeha or tribal motto reads: Tamaki ki raro, Mokau ki runga, Mangatoatoa ki waenganui, ko Pare Waikato,  ko Pare Hauraki , ko Te Kaokaoroa o Patetere (From Tamaki below, to Mokau above, with Mangatoatoa at the centre, Waikato district, Hauraki district, to the Patetere Range continues.

28.  Kurawari was a daughter of Raukawa and sister to Rereahu.

29.   Matangi was a contemporary of Maniapoto.

30.   Ngati Kaputuhi was accused by Taitengahau Te Kawana in a Native Land Court hearing of inventing the Tahakoke line.  He claimed Whakakauia as a sister to his ancestor Te Kanawa        

34.   Parekura was the second of three children to Taitengahue and Kaputuhi.  The first was Maniauruahu and the last-born was Tarawehi.

35.   The descendents of Parekura alone took the hapu title, Ngati Kaputuhi.

37.   The meeting-house of Ngati Kaputuhi.

39    The meeting-house originally stood at Waikeria, on Ngati Kaputuhi’s Tokanui land, before being shifted to Te Kawa in 1906.  In 1947 it was relocated to its present site, Hangatiki.

42.   Taitengahue is the tekoteko of the meeting-house.

43.   Parekura is the carved pou out front of the meeting-house.