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Tau Tohutoro | Reference NoHM00084Rā | Date1870/05/12Mai I Te Wāhi | PlaceWaipukurauMai I Te Tangata | FromPetariki IrauaKi Te Tangata | ToHenare MatuaNgā Tāngata | Names in letter KaraitianaTarehaKaupapa | SubjectReta; CorrespondenceWhakatau Take; GrievanceTohu Matawhenua | Geo Coordinates
Tūhonotanga | Related
Kohikohinga | CollectionHenare Matua Collection
Tu-hinga / Whakamāoritanga | Transcript / Translation
Tu-hinga | TranscriptTranscript: No te Waipukurau 12 nga ra Mei 1870
Kia Henare Matua
E Koro, tena ra koe e mihi ana ahau e aroha ana ahau ko te tuhi atu i au tenei reta ki a koe mo nga moni i te rongotaima moku ara mo nga hanga e putu atu ki a koe. E Koro, taukiri katahi ka whakama noku o tau korero kino ki nga tangata ko Karaitiana raua ko Tareha ara to raua mahi pohehe e hokona whenua kei te Pakeha. E ta. He mea mamae te taonga tarewa kia ea ano ka ora te tangata. Naku e ui ki a koe aha te take koia a Karaitiana i hokona a tona kainga tona tahonga nei na tenei te rongotaima tera. Ko nga utu nui ki te kaiwhakawa. E ta he ngakau tika a Karaitiana mana te hia hia i hoatu nga moni ki te Pakeha mo te rongotaima mana kua kite ture Pakeha pakeke tika hoki maumau moni e kore e pai ki a ia kia noho ki raro i te ture e kore. Na, E Koro e mahi tikanga i te mahi a Karaitiana e tauira mou e tauira hoki mo nga iwi katoa. Taukiri kua rongo i au tau korero kino i te ritenga o Karaitiana ka nui toku pouri. Mehemea na te tangata ware,
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na te tangata tauhou ana ki nga tikanga a te tangata moiho nana tenei mahi korero hikaka e kore au e aha. Tena ko koe he tangata matau ano koe ki nga tikanga a kahore he mea hei whakaiti tau mahi. He rangatira koe he hoa koe e nga tangata hoki o te Kawanatanga he tauira ki te mea iti o te tangata ki te mea rahi ano hoki o te tangata ara hei aro i nga tangata katoa. Kia tika te mahi kia pai te mahi. He mea te taonga tarewa kia ea ano te tangata kei te korero kino koe ki nga tangata i uru ki roto i te ture Pakeha kei te whakahonere nga tikanga Pakeha raua ko Tareha. Kore rawa e putu mai na korero whakahihi kei te ata huri mariri i te whakaaro aha koe rangatira pena me Karaitiana me Tareha aha koe tangata ware. Tena ko koe he mahi hianga tonu tau. Ka tika te mahi a Karaitiana. Heoi me waiho hei tauira mo te Hapu. Kei Porangahau na he kupu tenei naku ki akoe me kawe mai ki a au aku moni. E ki ana koe kei te tu pewhea koe ki toku aro aro i penei ai he mahi mau ki au. He tangata mate ra koe ki toku aro aro. Inahoki no te tau ka timata aku moni i a koe a taea noatia tenei ra e noho nei ano i a koe. Kia rongomai ko nga utu o oku hanga i a koe huia ki nga utu mo te takoteranga roatanga o nga moni i roto i nga tau. Ko aua moni katoa £ he mea whakaiti tenei i te tangata te waiho i ona rongotaima
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kia roa e takoto ana. A e hiahia ana hoki au kia hokimai aku moni ki au he mate hoki noku ki te moni. Tera hoki. Mehemea au e tango ana i au Hoiho, Hipi, Kau, Kaata, Moenga, Kohua mo aku moni i a koe a kohore ano au i tae ki te Kaiwhakawa ka pehea koe e kore ra koe e pai na kowai ianei koe kia penei he mahi mau ki au. Kia rongomai koe na me homai aku moni i roto i nga wiki erua e tu ake nei ki te kore koe e moni moku me homai te whenua mo nga nama o te tokomaha o taua Hapu. Engari kia hohoro tau tuhi mai ta te mea ka homai ta taua kakari ki te kaiwhakawa o te Kuine kei Nepia hei reira koe i kiti te ture pakeke turi tika ture maumau moni muringa iho ka tu te whakawa ki a tetahi murunga iho ki a tetahi kaua koe pohehe kei kimi tou whakaaro ki runga ranei au i te kino kakiti i au aku moni nui atu te manawareka. Ehara i te korero ngutu kau enei e korerotia nei engari no roto no te ngakau. Tenei tetahi ki atu ki a koe hei korero mau kia tou taina pohehe rawa ona korero ki au kaua mana i mahara naku e kawe tona tinana ki te whare herehere. E hara ko tenei te ritenga ture o te Pakeha. Kei te tangata rawa tango ona hoiho ona hipi kau ona aha hanga nona he utu moku na kua kiti te poreha he tangata rawa kore me kawe ona tinana ki te whare here here. Ko nga tangata rawa e hara. E ta ka nui
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tou moni tou Hapu hoki kore rawa i au ka kiti tetahi hikipenei i roto nga moni katoa e tango koutou e ka he koutou akuanei.
Heoi ano aku korero kia koe.
Na Petariki Iraua.
Kia Henare Matua Porangahau.
Na kia rongomai koe ko nga moni e takoto ianei i roto tou pokete e hara tenei tou moni e kore naku naku kia rongomai ko nga hikepine ranei ko te herini ranei e kawe atu koe akuanei kei te toa ranei kei te Paparikihou[..] ranei kia mahara koe. Naku a tenei moni e kore nau. E ta me whakarere rawa tou mahi kopeka.Whakamāoritanga | TranslationWaipukurau, 12th May 1870
To Henare Matua
Dear Sir, greetings to you. I send my respects and my love in writing this letter to you regarding the money for my rongotaima (callable loan/debt), that is, for the goods I sent you. Sir, goodness, I am truly ashamed of your offensive words about people like Karaitiana and Tareha, that is, about what you call their misguided action of selling land to the Pakeha. Sir, an unpaid rongotaima is a painful thing until it is paid in full, only then can a person be free. I ask you, what was the reason Karaitiana sold his settlement, his inheritance - it was because of this rongotaima. The fees to the judge were substantial. Sir, Karaitiana has an honest heart; he himself wanted to give the money to the Pakeha for the rongotaima. He has seen the Pakeha law to be strict and just and wasting money would not be good for him, nor does he wish to remain under the law, he does not. Now, Sir, act righteously in the matter of Karaitiana; let it be an example for you and an example for all the tribes. Goodness, I have heard your harmful words about Karaitiana's situation and I am greatly saddened. If it were from a lowly person,
Page 2:
unacquainted with the customs of the wise, I would not be concerned about these inflammatory statements. But you are a learned person in these matters, and there is nothing to diminish your actions. You are a Chief, a friend to the people of the Government, an example to both the common and highborn, that is, a guide for all people. Act rightly, act well. A rongotaima must be settled before a person can be at peace, yet you speak ill of those who have entered into Pakeha law – you dishonour the Pakeha practices of both Tareha and him. Never again should such arrogant words come forth – consider carefully if you are a Chief like Karaitiana and Tareha or merely a common person. As for you, your actions are consistently deceitful. Karaitiana's actions are proper. So, let it be left as an example for the hapu. I am in Porangahau now, and this is my message to you: bring my money to me. You ask how you stand in my eyes that I should act thus towards you. In my eyes, you are a dead man. Because from the year my money came to you until this very day, it still remains with you. Be informed that payment for my things that you have must include the interest for the length of time the money has been held over the years. All that money £ is something that diminishes a person, to leave their rongotaima
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lying for so long. And I also want my money returned to me as I am in need of money. Furthermore, if I were taking from you horses, sheep, cattle, carts, bedding, cooking pots for my money that you hold, and I had not yet gone to the Judge, how would you feel? You would not like it. Who are you to act thus towards me? Know this: my money must be given within the next two weeks, if you have no money for me then land must be given for the rongotaima obligations of the many in our hapu. But make haste in your writing back, for I will bring our dispute before the Queen's Judge in Napier. There you will see the strict and correct law regarding retained money, after which judgment will be passed against one of us or the other. Do not be mistaken thinking your thoughts are above or that I am acting in malice in seeking my substantial money – I would be more content. These are not merely empty words being spoken, but rather from the heart. Here is another word to you to discuss with your younger brother whose words to me were completely wrong - let him not think that I will have him imprisoned. This is not the way of Pakeha law. If a person has wealth - their horses, their sheep, cattle, and other possessions are their payment to me. Now the poor have seen that a person without wealth must be imprisoned. The wealthy are different. Sir, you and your hapu have much money. I will never see a single sixpence from all the
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money you all take and you all will be in the wrong soon.
That is all I have to say to you.
From Petariki Iraua.
To Henare Matua, Porangahau.
Now be informed that the money currently in your pocket – this is not your money, it is not yours but mine. Be informed that whether it be sixpence or a shilling that you carry now to the store or to the public house, remember this money is mine, not yours. Sir, you must completely abandon your deceitful ways.
Kia Henare Matua
E Koro, tena ra koe e mihi ana ahau e aroha ana ahau ko te tuhi atu i au tenei reta ki a koe mo nga moni i te rongotaima moku ara mo nga hanga e putu atu ki a koe. E Koro, taukiri katahi ka whakama noku o tau korero kino ki nga tangata ko Karaitiana raua ko Tareha ara to raua mahi pohehe e hokona whenua kei te Pakeha. E ta. He mea mamae te taonga tarewa kia ea ano ka ora te tangata. Naku e ui ki a koe aha te take koia a Karaitiana i hokona a tona kainga tona tahonga nei na tenei te rongotaima tera. Ko nga utu nui ki te kaiwhakawa. E ta he ngakau tika a Karaitiana mana te hia hia i hoatu nga moni ki te Pakeha mo te rongotaima mana kua kite ture Pakeha pakeke tika hoki maumau moni e kore e pai ki a ia kia noho ki raro i te ture e kore. Na, E Koro e mahi tikanga i te mahi a Karaitiana e tauira mou e tauira hoki mo nga iwi katoa. Taukiri kua rongo i au tau korero kino i te ritenga o Karaitiana ka nui toku pouri. Mehemea na te tangata ware,
Page 2:
na te tangata tauhou ana ki nga tikanga a te tangata moiho nana tenei mahi korero hikaka e kore au e aha. Tena ko koe he tangata matau ano koe ki nga tikanga a kahore he mea hei whakaiti tau mahi. He rangatira koe he hoa koe e nga tangata hoki o te Kawanatanga he tauira ki te mea iti o te tangata ki te mea rahi ano hoki o te tangata ara hei aro i nga tangata katoa. Kia tika te mahi kia pai te mahi. He mea te taonga tarewa kia ea ano te tangata kei te korero kino koe ki nga tangata i uru ki roto i te ture Pakeha kei te whakahonere nga tikanga Pakeha raua ko Tareha. Kore rawa e putu mai na korero whakahihi kei te ata huri mariri i te whakaaro aha koe rangatira pena me Karaitiana me Tareha aha koe tangata ware. Tena ko koe he mahi hianga tonu tau. Ka tika te mahi a Karaitiana. Heoi me waiho hei tauira mo te Hapu. Kei Porangahau na he kupu tenei naku ki akoe me kawe mai ki a au aku moni. E ki ana koe kei te tu pewhea koe ki toku aro aro i penei ai he mahi mau ki au. He tangata mate ra koe ki toku aro aro. Inahoki no te tau ka timata aku moni i a koe a taea noatia tenei ra e noho nei ano i a koe. Kia rongomai ko nga utu o oku hanga i a koe huia ki nga utu mo te takoteranga roatanga o nga moni i roto i nga tau. Ko aua moni katoa £ he mea whakaiti tenei i te tangata te waiho i ona rongotaima
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kia roa e takoto ana. A e hiahia ana hoki au kia hokimai aku moni ki au he mate hoki noku ki te moni. Tera hoki. Mehemea au e tango ana i au Hoiho, Hipi, Kau, Kaata, Moenga, Kohua mo aku moni i a koe a kohore ano au i tae ki te Kaiwhakawa ka pehea koe e kore ra koe e pai na kowai ianei koe kia penei he mahi mau ki au. Kia rongomai koe na me homai aku moni i roto i nga wiki erua e tu ake nei ki te kore koe e moni moku me homai te whenua mo nga nama o te tokomaha o taua Hapu. Engari kia hohoro tau tuhi mai ta te mea ka homai ta taua kakari ki te kaiwhakawa o te Kuine kei Nepia hei reira koe i kiti te ture pakeke turi tika ture maumau moni muringa iho ka tu te whakawa ki a tetahi murunga iho ki a tetahi kaua koe pohehe kei kimi tou whakaaro ki runga ranei au i te kino kakiti i au aku moni nui atu te manawareka. Ehara i te korero ngutu kau enei e korerotia nei engari no roto no te ngakau. Tenei tetahi ki atu ki a koe hei korero mau kia tou taina pohehe rawa ona korero ki au kaua mana i mahara naku e kawe tona tinana ki te whare herehere. E hara ko tenei te ritenga ture o te Pakeha. Kei te tangata rawa tango ona hoiho ona hipi kau ona aha hanga nona he utu moku na kua kiti te poreha he tangata rawa kore me kawe ona tinana ki te whare here here. Ko nga tangata rawa e hara. E ta ka nui
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tou moni tou Hapu hoki kore rawa i au ka kiti tetahi hikipenei i roto nga moni katoa e tango koutou e ka he koutou akuanei.
Heoi ano aku korero kia koe.
Na Petariki Iraua.
Kia Henare Matua Porangahau.
Na kia rongomai koe ko nga moni e takoto ianei i roto tou pokete e hara tenei tou moni e kore naku naku kia rongomai ko nga hikepine ranei ko te herini ranei e kawe atu koe akuanei kei te toa ranei kei te Paparikihou[..] ranei kia mahara koe. Naku a tenei moni e kore nau. E ta me whakarere rawa tou mahi kopeka.Whakamāoritanga | TranslationWaipukurau, 12th May 1870
To Henare Matua
Dear Sir, greetings to you. I send my respects and my love in writing this letter to you regarding the money for my rongotaima (callable loan/debt), that is, for the goods I sent you. Sir, goodness, I am truly ashamed of your offensive words about people like Karaitiana and Tareha, that is, about what you call their misguided action of selling land to the Pakeha. Sir, an unpaid rongotaima is a painful thing until it is paid in full, only then can a person be free. I ask you, what was the reason Karaitiana sold his settlement, his inheritance - it was because of this rongotaima. The fees to the judge were substantial. Sir, Karaitiana has an honest heart; he himself wanted to give the money to the Pakeha for the rongotaima. He has seen the Pakeha law to be strict and just and wasting money would not be good for him, nor does he wish to remain under the law, he does not. Now, Sir, act righteously in the matter of Karaitiana; let it be an example for you and an example for all the tribes. Goodness, I have heard your harmful words about Karaitiana's situation and I am greatly saddened. If it were from a lowly person,
Page 2:
unacquainted with the customs of the wise, I would not be concerned about these inflammatory statements. But you are a learned person in these matters, and there is nothing to diminish your actions. You are a Chief, a friend to the people of the Government, an example to both the common and highborn, that is, a guide for all people. Act rightly, act well. A rongotaima must be settled before a person can be at peace, yet you speak ill of those who have entered into Pakeha law – you dishonour the Pakeha practices of both Tareha and him. Never again should such arrogant words come forth – consider carefully if you are a Chief like Karaitiana and Tareha or merely a common person. As for you, your actions are consistently deceitful. Karaitiana's actions are proper. So, let it be left as an example for the hapu. I am in Porangahau now, and this is my message to you: bring my money to me. You ask how you stand in my eyes that I should act thus towards you. In my eyes, you are a dead man. Because from the year my money came to you until this very day, it still remains with you. Be informed that payment for my things that you have must include the interest for the length of time the money has been held over the years. All that money £ is something that diminishes a person, to leave their rongotaima
Page 3:
lying for so long. And I also want my money returned to me as I am in need of money. Furthermore, if I were taking from you horses, sheep, cattle, carts, bedding, cooking pots for my money that you hold, and I had not yet gone to the Judge, how would you feel? You would not like it. Who are you to act thus towards me? Know this: my money must be given within the next two weeks, if you have no money for me then land must be given for the rongotaima obligations of the many in our hapu. But make haste in your writing back, for I will bring our dispute before the Queen's Judge in Napier. There you will see the strict and correct law regarding retained money, after which judgment will be passed against one of us or the other. Do not be mistaken thinking your thoughts are above or that I am acting in malice in seeking my substantial money – I would be more content. These are not merely empty words being spoken, but rather from the heart. Here is another word to you to discuss with your younger brother whose words to me were completely wrong - let him not think that I will have him imprisoned. This is not the way of Pakeha law. If a person has wealth - their horses, their sheep, cattle, and other possessions are their payment to me. Now the poor have seen that a person without wealth must be imprisoned. The wealthy are different. Sir, you and your hapu have much money. I will never see a single sixpence from all the
Page 4:
money you all take and you all will be in the wrong soon.
That is all I have to say to you.
From Petariki Iraua.
To Henare Matua, Porangahau.
Now be informed that the money currently in your pocket – this is not your money, it is not yours but mine. Be informed that whether it be sixpence or a shilling that you carry now to the store or to the public house, remember this money is mine, not yours. Sir, you must completely abandon your deceitful ways.
Letter from Petariki Iraua to Henare Matua. Ngāti Kere Archives, accessed 09/04/2026, https://ngatikere.recollectcms.com/nodes/view/471