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Letter from Winiata, Renata Tipuna, Hira Te Whakapi & Te Retui to Henare Matua
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Taipitopito | Details
Tau Tohutoro | Reference NoHM00008Rā | Date1874/01/17Mai I Te Wāhi | PlaceMohakaWairoaNapierPatutahiTe AuteHiruharamaPakohaiMai I Te Tangata | FromMohakaKi Te Tangata | ToWiniataRenata TipunaHira Te WhakapiTe Retui PorangiRehu Te WhareroaTe Harawira HakeReupena TaiamaiWiremu TahanaHoera Te KahuHori KarakaNgā Tāngata | Names in letter HoaniRopianaPaora RerepuPaora Te ApatuNareWiniataRenata TipunaHira Te WhakapiTe Retui PorangiRehu Te WhareroaTe Harawira HakeReupena TaiamaiWiremu TahanaHoera Te KahuHori KarakaKaupapa | SubjectWhakatau Take; GrievanceReta; Correspondence
Tūhonotanga | Related
Wāhi | PlaceMohakaWairoaNapierPatutahiTe AuteHiruharamaPakohaiKohikohinga | CollectionTuhinga ā-ringaIwiNgati KahungunuHapūTakitimu
Tu-hinga / Whakamāoritanga | Transcript / Translation
Tu-hinga | TranscriptTranscript: Mohaka Hanuere 17 1874
Kia Henare Matua raua ko taana komiti. E hika tena ra koutou ko te iwi nui tonu i roto i te atawhai o te atua maana koutou e tiaki e tohu e mana aki, mana e mea kia neke atu o koutou tau i te oranga roa i tenei ao. e hika tena ra koe me te iwi katoa kia ora koutou i roto i te atawhai o to tatou Ariki a Ihu Karaiti, ka huri te mihi Ka tu tenei he kupu e hika tenei au pukapuka kua tae mai kia matou kua kite iho i a au korero i whakaatu mai nei e pai ana aha koa kai konei matou kai kona koutou e tata ana tatou i te Wairoa e tata ana tatou i te aroha e tiaki tonu ana i runga i te tikanga i korero tia e koe, i rongo ai matou ahakoa tae atu nga he o matua i ngaati Kahungunu te whaakaatu kia koutou e pai ana e tika ana te mahi a Hoani i te taha Pakeha ana ke, ko to nga maori taha e hara ia ia katia tonutia e ia. e toru a matou runanga tanga kia kaua e mahia te waea ki runga ki to nga maori Pihi tohe tonu a Ropiana ratou koona tangata ki te mahi heoi haere atu ana a Paora Rerepu ki Nepia whakaaetia atu ana ki te Kawanatanga ki a Mahia heoi ano te mea i kore ia ia ko te pa anake o te rakau ki runga ki te tangata tena ko te korero. Ka nui ko whawha i ka nui tenei tetahi kupu ko te moni o Patutahi kaore matou nei i pa atu ki taua moni, kore rawatu engari te moni o nga reti e paana matau ki taua moni E hika kia rongo mai koe te komiti o konei kai te whaka rongo tonu kia matukutangotango kai te titro te kanohi kai whakarongo te taringa kai te kimi ano
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aku mahara ki te mahi e takoto mai ana ia koe e hika kai te mau tonu te whakaaro ki runga ki tatatou mahi kaore he korero Nunui o ko-nei heoi tena tenei ano te tahi kupu mo te korenga o te tahi tangata e tae atu ki te hui ki te aute. e tika ana he riri no Hoani kinga moni Patutahi mo te kainga a Ngati Kahungunu. Ko te tahi ko te wera nga o Hiruharama i tahuna ai e Paora Rerepu ki te ahi Pau katoa nga whare nga taonga katoa. no reira ka pouri ia no kona te take i kore ai ia e haere atu ki te mea he Pono te Komiti ki Pakohai. Kata-hi te tangata ka tae atu he ki tuturu tena na te komiti o Mohaka ki te mea e ra koutou e tae mai ki Pako-hai me whakaatu mai e koe kia mohio ai matou koi hoha koe ki te tuku reta mai kia matou kia motu ano te Reta ki to tuakana kia Paora te Apatu kia motu tonu mai he Reta kia matou kai a koe hoki te take o nga whakaaro he ki tuturu tena na te komiti koi hoha koe ki te tuku reta mai kia ia, e Nare tena koe koutou tahi ko te iwi ma te Atua tatou e tohu e tiaki aha koa e whakaeke ana te Putai ki runga ki a takitimu kai te uaua tonu nga tangata o te tainga wai ki te tata i te wai ahakoa whaka rukuruku nga Poito o te waha o te kupenga nei mau tonu. ma te tangata i tena Pou e tiki mai e whakarewarewa i taka tua kia ruha ra ano to kupenga tahi ano ka whakarere i te akau na hora ai me tona taurua me takitimu. e hika ahakoa kuraruraru ena korero na he korero Pono tonu ena korero na te komiti kau matua o Mohaka ko te kupu mihi e kore e mahue, he ka
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whenga ake hoki na tenei taonga nui na te aroha. e hika tena koutou ko te iwi katoa e koro ma e kui ma e hine ma e ta mama tena ra koutou katoa katoa ma te Atua tatou katoa e tiaki ka huri te aroha.
Na o matua aroha Na Winiata
Na Renata tipuna Na Hira te Whakapi
Na te Retui Porangi na Rehu te Whareroa
Na te Harawira Hake Na Reupena Tai
amai, Na Wiremu Tahana Na hoera te Kahu
Na Hori Karaka.Whakamāoritanga | TranslationMohaka, January 17, 1874
To Henare Matua and the committee - greetings.
To you, the esteemed people under God's grace: may the Lord protect, guide, and honour you. May He grant you many years yet to live upon this earth. Greetings to you all. May you prosper in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have received your uplifting letter. Though we are apart in distance, we remain close at Wairoa. We are bound in deep affection and continue to walk together under your guidance, even despite the past discord within Ngati Kahungunu. As for Hoani, we can confirm his efforts concerning Pakeha matters have been commendable. But in the matters of Maori, his hand has not proven effective - he has hindered progress. We have convened three council meetings to oppose the building of the telegraph across Maori lands. Yet Ropiana and his men carried on with their task. In time, Paora Rerepu went to Napier and made arrangements with the Government to continue the work. However, he was unable to secure an agreement that limited obligations only to those who had given their consent. That is the current state of affairs. This matter has caused much division and unrest. Concerning the Patutahi money - rest assured, we have not touched a single portion of those funds. We do, however, collect and manage the rental payments. Friend, please understand this: the committee here feels the presence of Matukutangotango - the omen. We are watchful. We are alert.
Page 2:
I reflect on the burdens you carry and remain focused on our shared commitments. There is little else to report here, save to explain why no representative from Mohaka was present at the meeting at Te Aute. Hoani was aggrieved over the Patutahi money relating to the lands of Ngati Kahungunu. Moreover, Hiruharama was set ablaze by Paora Rerepu - all the homes and belongings were destroyed. This weighed heavily upon him and was the reason for his absence.
If the committee at Pakohai is sincere in its intentions, the people will come. This is the position of the Mohaka committee. Those among you who intend to travel to Pakohai must inform us, so that we may be prepared - lest silence be taken as disregard. One letter must be written to your elder brother, Paora Te Apatu. Another must be sent to us directly. You understand well the reasons for these courtesies. Let not these communications be neglected. Nare, greetings to you and your people. May God guide and protect us. Though Takitimu is struck by heavy tides, those aboard continue to bail the water. Though the floats of the net are submerged beneath the waves, they still hold. The one charged with that post must set them to the surface once more. The time for casting the net to the shore will only come when it is truly worn through, and then it shall be spread out beside the vessel Takitimu. My friend, these words may unsettle you, but they are the honest thoughts of the elders' committee of Mohaka.
Page 3:
The words of tribute will not be lost - for they speak of this great taonga, which is love. To you, dear friend, and to all your people - regards. To the elder men, to the elder women, to the young women and the young men - acknowledgements to you all. May God's protection be upon us, as this love is passed from one to another.
With affection,
From your loving elders:
Winiata
Renata
Tipuna
Hira Te Whakapi
Te Retui Porangi
Rehu Te Whareroa
Te Harawira Hake
Reupena Taiamai
Wiremu Tahana
Hoera Te Kahu
Hori Karaka.
Kia Henare Matua raua ko taana komiti. E hika tena ra koutou ko te iwi nui tonu i roto i te atawhai o te atua maana koutou e tiaki e tohu e mana aki, mana e mea kia neke atu o koutou tau i te oranga roa i tenei ao. e hika tena ra koe me te iwi katoa kia ora koutou i roto i te atawhai o to tatou Ariki a Ihu Karaiti, ka huri te mihi Ka tu tenei he kupu e hika tenei au pukapuka kua tae mai kia matou kua kite iho i a au korero i whakaatu mai nei e pai ana aha koa kai konei matou kai kona koutou e tata ana tatou i te Wairoa e tata ana tatou i te aroha e tiaki tonu ana i runga i te tikanga i korero tia e koe, i rongo ai matou ahakoa tae atu nga he o matua i ngaati Kahungunu te whaakaatu kia koutou e pai ana e tika ana te mahi a Hoani i te taha Pakeha ana ke, ko to nga maori taha e hara ia ia katia tonutia e ia. e toru a matou runanga tanga kia kaua e mahia te waea ki runga ki to nga maori Pihi tohe tonu a Ropiana ratou koona tangata ki te mahi heoi haere atu ana a Paora Rerepu ki Nepia whakaaetia atu ana ki te Kawanatanga ki a Mahia heoi ano te mea i kore ia ia ko te pa anake o te rakau ki runga ki te tangata tena ko te korero. Ka nui ko whawha i ka nui tenei tetahi kupu ko te moni o Patutahi kaore matou nei i pa atu ki taua moni, kore rawatu engari te moni o nga reti e paana matau ki taua moni E hika kia rongo mai koe te komiti o konei kai te whaka rongo tonu kia matukutangotango kai te titro te kanohi kai whakarongo te taringa kai te kimi ano
Page 2:
aku mahara ki te mahi e takoto mai ana ia koe e hika kai te mau tonu te whakaaro ki runga ki tatatou mahi kaore he korero Nunui o ko-nei heoi tena tenei ano te tahi kupu mo te korenga o te tahi tangata e tae atu ki te hui ki te aute. e tika ana he riri no Hoani kinga moni Patutahi mo te kainga a Ngati Kahungunu. Ko te tahi ko te wera nga o Hiruharama i tahuna ai e Paora Rerepu ki te ahi Pau katoa nga whare nga taonga katoa. no reira ka pouri ia no kona te take i kore ai ia e haere atu ki te mea he Pono te Komiti ki Pakohai. Kata-hi te tangata ka tae atu he ki tuturu tena na te komiti o Mohaka ki te mea e ra koutou e tae mai ki Pako-hai me whakaatu mai e koe kia mohio ai matou koi hoha koe ki te tuku reta mai kia matou kia motu ano te Reta ki to tuakana kia Paora te Apatu kia motu tonu mai he Reta kia matou kai a koe hoki te take o nga whakaaro he ki tuturu tena na te komiti koi hoha koe ki te tuku reta mai kia ia, e Nare tena koe koutou tahi ko te iwi ma te Atua tatou e tohu e tiaki aha koa e whakaeke ana te Putai ki runga ki a takitimu kai te uaua tonu nga tangata o te tainga wai ki te tata i te wai ahakoa whaka rukuruku nga Poito o te waha o te kupenga nei mau tonu. ma te tangata i tena Pou e tiki mai e whakarewarewa i taka tua kia ruha ra ano to kupenga tahi ano ka whakarere i te akau na hora ai me tona taurua me takitimu. e hika ahakoa kuraruraru ena korero na he korero Pono tonu ena korero na te komiti kau matua o Mohaka ko te kupu mihi e kore e mahue, he ka
Page 3:
whenga ake hoki na tenei taonga nui na te aroha. e hika tena koutou ko te iwi katoa e koro ma e kui ma e hine ma e ta mama tena ra koutou katoa katoa ma te Atua tatou katoa e tiaki ka huri te aroha.
Na o matua aroha Na Winiata
Na Renata tipuna Na Hira te Whakapi
Na te Retui Porangi na Rehu te Whareroa
Na te Harawira Hake Na Reupena Tai
amai, Na Wiremu Tahana Na hoera te Kahu
Na Hori Karaka.Whakamāoritanga | TranslationMohaka, January 17, 1874
To Henare Matua and the committee - greetings.
To you, the esteemed people under God's grace: may the Lord protect, guide, and honour you. May He grant you many years yet to live upon this earth. Greetings to you all. May you prosper in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have received your uplifting letter. Though we are apart in distance, we remain close at Wairoa. We are bound in deep affection and continue to walk together under your guidance, even despite the past discord within Ngati Kahungunu. As for Hoani, we can confirm his efforts concerning Pakeha matters have been commendable. But in the matters of Maori, his hand has not proven effective - he has hindered progress. We have convened three council meetings to oppose the building of the telegraph across Maori lands. Yet Ropiana and his men carried on with their task. In time, Paora Rerepu went to Napier and made arrangements with the Government to continue the work. However, he was unable to secure an agreement that limited obligations only to those who had given their consent. That is the current state of affairs. This matter has caused much division and unrest. Concerning the Patutahi money - rest assured, we have not touched a single portion of those funds. We do, however, collect and manage the rental payments. Friend, please understand this: the committee here feels the presence of Matukutangotango - the omen. We are watchful. We are alert.
Page 2:
I reflect on the burdens you carry and remain focused on our shared commitments. There is little else to report here, save to explain why no representative from Mohaka was present at the meeting at Te Aute. Hoani was aggrieved over the Patutahi money relating to the lands of Ngati Kahungunu. Moreover, Hiruharama was set ablaze by Paora Rerepu - all the homes and belongings were destroyed. This weighed heavily upon him and was the reason for his absence.
If the committee at Pakohai is sincere in its intentions, the people will come. This is the position of the Mohaka committee. Those among you who intend to travel to Pakohai must inform us, so that we may be prepared - lest silence be taken as disregard. One letter must be written to your elder brother, Paora Te Apatu. Another must be sent to us directly. You understand well the reasons for these courtesies. Let not these communications be neglected. Nare, greetings to you and your people. May God guide and protect us. Though Takitimu is struck by heavy tides, those aboard continue to bail the water. Though the floats of the net are submerged beneath the waves, they still hold. The one charged with that post must set them to the surface once more. The time for casting the net to the shore will only come when it is truly worn through, and then it shall be spread out beside the vessel Takitimu. My friend, these words may unsettle you, but they are the honest thoughts of the elders' committee of Mohaka.
Page 3:
The words of tribute will not be lost - for they speak of this great taonga, which is love. To you, dear friend, and to all your people - regards. To the elder men, to the elder women, to the young women and the young men - acknowledgements to you all. May God's protection be upon us, as this love is passed from one to another.
With affection,
From your loving elders:
Winiata
Renata
Tipuna
Hira Te Whakapi
Te Retui Porangi
Rehu Te Whareroa
Te Harawira Hake
Reupena Taiamai
Wiremu Tahana
Hoera Te Kahu
Hori Karaka.
Letter from Winiata, Renata Tipuna, Hira Te Whakapi & Te Retui to Henare Matua. Ngāti Kere Archives, accessed 09/04/2026, https://ngatikere.recollectcms.com/nodes/view/655