Rotorua historian Don Stafford hopes his new book will set the record straight about Hongi Hika's attack on Te Arawa.
In the book, A Wild Wind from the North, Mr Stafford seeks to dispel some of the myths surrounding Ngapuhi's attack on Te Arawa at Mokoia Island in
1823.
"It wasn't just Ngapuhi on a war party, it was utu [revenge] against Te Arawa. Neither was it an unexpected event, even for Te Arawa," Mr Stafford said.
Today in a ceremony at Te Papaiouru Marae, Ohinemutu, portraits of two Ngapuhi ancestors, Hongi Hika and Hautakiri Wharepapa, will be presented to a Ngapuhi delegation. It is hoped it will see the end of almost 200 years of emnity between the two tribes.
Ngapuhi spokesman Sonny Tau said the invitation from Te Arawa to attend the book launch and presentation was very welcome.
"The actions Hongi Hika took are a part of history and were what happened in those days.
"Now it's time to get on with our lives."
Hongi Hika and his Ngapuhi warriors from Northland travelled to Rotorua in the summer of 1823 to exact revenge for past crimes committed against his people by Te Arawa.
About 120 Ngapuhi people have travelled to Rotorua for the event. "We are all looking forward to it. As long as Mr Stafford has got his facts straight, and I'm sure he has, then the book will be received with open arms," Mr Tau said.
During the course of his research Mr Stafford stumbled on the story of a stone patu (a traditional Maori weapon) lost for more than 70 years.
"It was called Papa Harakeke or Ngakau Mamai (the satisfied heart). It was gifted to the Te Arawa people as a peace offering by Sir Apirana Ngata on behalf of Henare Kingi (chief of Ngapuhi iwi Ngati Kahu) at a hui for the Ahuwhenua Trophy (for excellence in Maori Dairy Farming) at Ohinemutu in 1934. Henare Kingi asked that it be a sign that all emnity between them was at an end.
It was recently returned to Te Arawa after many years in safekeeping at the Auckland Muesum. But that's another story.
