Ngati Hotu’s Last Stand
Monica Matamua and her family are Ngati Hotu, an indigenous people of New Zealand long said to be extinct. She is the third generation of her family to battle through the Maori Land Court and now the Waitangi Tribunal, for their existence to be recognised, struggling against larger iwi whose interest in having Ngati Hotu declared extinct was simple – to claim the lands of this tangata whenua as their own. Eventually, to gain recognition as ‘existing,’ Monica had to claim under her lineage with the Whanganui people. Ngati Hotu are still not recognised as existing, legally or historically. The story of Ngati Hotu continues…
The people were hunted
The history of Ngati Hotu is a harrowing one, from aeons of generations living in harmony and peace throughout Aotearoa to the disastrous invasions by warrior tribes from other islands in the Pacific in the 14th century. Invasions that relentlessly destroyed the idyllic way of life of a peaceful people, and through mass murder, drove Ngati Hotu to the brink of extinction. Monica is now 76, her flaming red hair, green eyes and pale skin bravely declaring the genes of her ancestors. She takes up her story, the story of a people who have survived against terrible odds:
Monica: “There are many stories of the attacks that were made upon the Ngati Hotu people. My great great koro Te Piki Kotuku was returning to Rotoiti, down the Whanganui River, when he was chased by eight warriors of Tuwharetoa. He escaped them by hiding under the river bank and released his cloak, his korowai. His pursuers thought he had drowned and so they returned to Taupo. Our land Te Rena was named after his korowai. Te Piki Kotuku was of Ngati Hotu and Ngati Hinewai descent and had green eyes and fair skin. He was tall and slim and often outran the enemy.
“But so many did not escape. It’s heartbreaking. One thing I am clear of, is that my tupuna never left the land, nor were they wiped out. My grandfather Mahinui Te Araroa Karauti told me the Ngati Hotu had been attacked at Pipiriki, inland from Patea, by Ngati Maru of Taranaki. They fled into the rugged part of Taurewa, now known as Te Rena and parts of Whangaipeke. Many were still living at Kakaha (near Taumarunui) and throughout the Waimarino. By the time of Te Kooti in the 1850s, the survivors of Ngati Hotu had long since returned to their main marae, Takapuna, one mile from where the Whanganui and Whakapapa Rivers meet. There had been a massacre there, in 1834 at the hands of Ngati Maru.
“After the battle of Te Porere, when government forces fought Te Kooti in the shadow of Tongariro and Ngauruhoe, Ngati Hotu fled into the bush for several months. It was a dangerous time for the family. Anyone found to have assisted Te Kooti had their heads chopped off. It was some time before the people returned to Kakaha, only to be moved off the land permanently in the late 1880s. Nevertheless, the blood still thrives in our veins; it hasn’t been extinguished. Some might be embarrassed by the fact that their ancestors lost a few battles, but it is who we are, it is our identity. That doesn’t mean we should be ignored and made landless.”
Buying back Ancestral Land
Mangakeke Pa, 10km from Taumarunui, had long been occupied by Ngati Hotu chief, Kakahi before his people were driven away. In 1946, Monica’s parents leased the site of this pa to graze cows. The family started to buy back about half of the ancestral land in 1935 and as other owners sold, they continued to buy, until about 100 acres was in their possession.
“It’s sad we have had to buy back what we never sold, but when you are invisible or ‘extinct’, you have no choice,” Monica says. “The only ‘legal and permanent’ way we have been able to re-occupy our lands has been to buy it back. Our historic sites were mostly desecrated by 1935. Our people were disinherited of our whenua (land). We have been in occupation of Taurewa Te Rena since the beginning of time and I believe we would have remained so at Kakahi, Raurimu, Kaitieke and areas around Retaruke (17km from Taumarunui), if the Crown hadn’t purchased these lands.
“It was evidence by Tuwharetoa that made us extinct. We were made extinct because we were never going to sell the land. How can we stand up for our land when we are told we don’t exist? No historian has ever gone out and looked for descendants of Ngati Hotu - until now.”
The last battle – for the papakainga
Over centuries, much has been taken from Ngati Hotu – uncountable lives, huge tracts of land - identity. Today’s battles take place through years of prolonged court hearings. The long fight for recognition has taken its toll. Monica took over from her mother Tangi when she became too ill to continue. Monica’s health has also suffered severely but she has kept going as her mother, friends, supporters and - cruellest blow of all - her beloved husband Ike, died. As she continues to stand up courageously for her ancestors and her descendents, Monica’s focus is to regain possession of the last piece of Ngati Hotu land remaining at Te Rena Taurewa, near Taumarunui – her family papakainga.
Papakainga is the land acknowledged as the traditional homeland, the marae, the place where its people historically live and garden, where they look after the land and the land looks after them. The 30 acres of papakainga at Te Rena Taurewa belonged legally to Monica’s grandmother, Te-Oti –Mihiterina - there is a document to prove it – occupied by her ancestors since the year 1400. All those generations are buried on Hena Hill, a place venerated like Taupiri is by the Tainui people. The hill rises above the site of the Whakahou Marae, today occupied solely by the deserted Whakahou Campers’ Lodge.
The land was lost to the family because of the way the Native Land Court worked. Monica’s mother and grandfather began seeking justice through the Maori Land Court in 1989 and Monica took over the quest before the Waitangi Tribunal in 2006, resubmitting in 2010.
She explains: “Competition for land that started in the Native Land Court continues today. Trusts have been created that keep us off our lands and treat us like trespassers if we are not on the ownership list. The Te Turu Whenua Act of 1993 said the Native Land Court didn’t need to notify owners for hearings. In 1982 before Judge Durie, only one family of 20 turned up to a hearing out of 1,700 owners and the judge said ‘that will do.’ This kind of treatment still happens to people. They lose ownership of their land because they don’t know it is happening. The Hapu Ngati Hinewai, also of Ngati Hotu, have today lost control of all their lands and are squeezed into an area at Te Rena which they share with some 3,000 other owners on 2,000 acres.
“The Whakahou Marae at Te Rena was known to have been there in 1800 and was underground. It was rebuilt in wood in 1908 but burnt down by an arsonist in 1967. When I first applied to the trustees to return to Te Rena to rebuild our marae, I didn’t know that our great grandmother Te Oti Mihi Terina legally owned the land. Now we know that not one owner of our family block signed any legal document to place their Tupuna Block into an amalgamation. We see this as a blunder by the Maori Land Court and it is they who must fix it up. Because of th
 | TE PA |
| Thursday, March 10, 2011 |
NZ pre history,interesting article.Ngati Hotu,Kawerau A Maki are a few of the tribes who have been so called extinct but this is unrtrue.The invasion of 'warrior tribes' aue,Queen Victoria's tribe was the just about the greatest of them all.Brought with her not only disease, but vermin that wiped out alot of humans,animals and birds native to NZ.Still dropping 1080 to get of rid them, let us not forget about gorse of course.Ngati Hotu like any tribe lived in 'peace and harmony' till another tribe wants what they possess,RESOURCES.It is still happening today ,invasion of Afganistan(Taliban forbade drug plants to be grown.America needs it to keep all its addicts happy)invasion of Iraq, wow America will be going to Libya to claim a % of the sp..oils.After the U.N find him guilty of crimes against humanity.Ngati Hotu like all tribes descend off Maui be proud of that because like the great musican Bob Marley sang 'to divide and rule could only tear us apart,In every mans chest there beats a heart, soon we'll find out who is the real REVOLUTIONARYS cause i don't want my be tricked by mercenaries'
| Phil Mooney |
| Monday, March 14, 2011 |
As a first time reader of your magazine i was impressed by the fact that you have delved into the murky world of Maori land title. As a pakeha i have always had a keen interest in what transpired in pre european times and the way that the people would have lived. I must say the article regarding the Ngati Hotu people portrays an injustice that seems to be buried in the annals of time and i was saddened by the surviving blood lines attempt for at least a fair hearing of their claims. If the more promenient tribes have indeed taken the land of Ngati Hotu , Mori ori etc. by deceit then they should have to compensate the tribes involved either by returning land or monetary compensation which they could pay out from their own land grevance claims which they have quite rightly won from the NZ government over the last few years. After all is'nt that what Mana is about ? . As a foot note the destruction of the lodge and grazing of the burial grounds by the "land owners"? was a cruel and callous act and the people involved should hang their heads in shame.
| arin matamua |
| Thursday, March 17, 2011 |
Yeah great to read about our Ngati Hotu history their was a time we didnt mention who we were got alot of backlash for saying so today is a different story seeing everything is in reversal in gaining our rights as a people is important to our country that they know we do exsist for we do have alot to offer.
| CDT |
| Sunday, April 10, 2011 |
If they haven't already, then I encourage the Ngati Hotu folk to get their own website going. The internet is an immensely powerful tool, especially when using blogging platforms such as WordPress, and as their history becomes more known then I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a helluva lot of Kiwis getting in behind to support their cause to see ancestral land and the title of tangata whenua stripped from the cannibal invaders and handed back to the ancient settlers, whose philosophy of peace and co-operation can only be of benefit to the nation as a whole.
| BD |
| Wednesday, July 13, 2011 |
I agree with CDT. The Internet is your most powerful tool. After accidentally stumbling across www.celticnz.co.nz and www.kilts.co.nz my interest was sparked in pre Maori New Zealand and the possibilities of an alternative New Zealand History than now taught in NZ schools. After searching the net for anything regarding Taine Ruaridh Mhor and his sons Rory and Ruaridh and 95 kinfolk who were banished to Seal Land (New Zealand?) from Scotland in the early 1100's by the Scots King, Alexander I, I've ended up here on your site, about Ngati Hotu.
The names Rory (Ruri?) Ruaridh (Rua?) and Taine (Tane?) are as interesting as the many stone archeological sites found all over New Zealand and covered up by the New Zealand Goverment in its haste to appease those who gain wealth from denying truth.
In my eyes, Truth and Mana walk hand in hand. He who denies a truth, has no Mana. He or she is therefore a holder of lies and is a reflection of his or her Tipuna, Iwi and Hapu. They hold up shame, not Mana for all to see.
Ngati Hotu should be recognized in New Zealand for who they are and given the respect and Mana they so deserve!!
The Maori legends of the Patu-paeirri should count as much as the stories of Kupe and Maui. Te Arawa legends acknowledge that New Zealand was already peopled when their canoe arrived at Maketu. Te Arawa even had to send out scouting parties to find lands not inhabited already. They even came upon fair skinned people with red hair around Taupo!!! Other tribes also say this, that the fair skinned, red headed and green eyed people were here long before Polynesians.
Were they Scots banished and brought to our fair shores on Longships? Were they Moriori or Moa hunters? Or did these people arrive before the 183 AD explosion of the Taupo volcano which covered the entire North Island under meters of ash and pumice?
I'm glad you are demanding recognition of your people's.
I'd love to read more of your history, your language and your people. Build a Ngati Hotu website and put as much info up as you can. And contact Martin Doutre at Kilts.co.nz It's time your story was heard.
I want to know New Zealand's truth.
| editor |
| Wednesday, July 13, 2011 |
CDT and BT - Great commentary. "He who denies a truth, has no Mana" Well said..