Page:Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014.pdf/8

Schedule

When he arrived at Te Rapa, which is located near Tokaanu, Te Rauparaha was told by Te Heu Heu II Mananui that he was being pursued by a war party from Ngati Te Aho, who wanted revenge for a previous incident involving Ngati Toa Rangatira. Te Heu Heu directed Te Rauparaha to seek the protection of his relative Te Wharerangi at his pa on Motu-o Puhi, an island in Lake Rotoaira.

As the war party closed in on their quarry, guided by the incantations of their tohunga, Te Wharerangi instructed Te Rauparaha to hide in a taewa pit and instructed his wife, Te Rangikoaea, to sit at the entrance. By doing this, Te Rauparaha was hidden and protected physically, but, more importantly, in a spiritual sense as well. As the Ngati Te Aho party entered the pa, their tohunga made incantations to locate Te Rauparaha, but the noa of Te Rangikoaea, who sat at the mouth of the pit, acted as an "arai" or barrier. The karakia was inhibited due to the woman's presence.

Te Rauparaha could not be sure that his presence would not be revealed and could feel the power of the incantations. He is said to have muttered "Ka Mate! Ka Mate!" under his breath (Will I die!) and "Ka Ora! Ka Ora!" (or will I live!) when the Noa reduced the incantation's effect. These lines were repeated many times, coinciding with the waxing and waning of the tohunga's power, until eventually Ngati Te Aho were convinced that Te Rauparaha had escaped towards Taranaki. 8