Carving made from waka timber
Maike van der Heide looks back at Marlborough’s history through the stories of some of the treasures at Picton Museum.
A piece of wood originally from a war canoe built by Ngatiawa chief Rangi Tuwhatawhata in Hawke’s Bay hundreds of years ago, is on display in Picton Museum.
The war canoe, or waka taua, was built at Puketapu Pa and used for many long journeys and battles but eventually ended up in a swamp.
Many years later, a section of the waka was salvaged and a piece of the wood was carved by a Picton Historical Society member for display in the museum.
The waka, named Paroa and featuring wide gunnels (gunwales) with a shallow bilge but high side panels, was dragged from Hawke’s Bay to the Patea River, in Taranaki, then paddled to the coast.
During the Musket Wars the waka builder’s son, Rihari Tahuaroa, who was then chief, led his people south to Waikanae in a great heke, or migration, about 1822.
Ngatiawa established themselves in the Waikanae district. By 1829, large war parties (taua) were attacking the South Island and at least 10 Ngatiawa waka, some up to 21 metres long, crossed Cook Strait. Paroa was among them.
Queen Charlotte Sound fell to Ngatiawa and Rihari and his people settled on Arapaoa (Arapawa) Island and established a permanent home at Onauku, East Bay.
When Te Rauparaha and Ngati Toa set out to attack Kaiapoi in 1831, many former allies, including Rihari, joined the expedition. A few years later, the Ngatiawa from Queen Charlotte Sound left to defend their relatives and lands at Waikanae in the battle of Kuititanga in 1839. This was likely Paroa’s last war expedition.
The waka was probably decorated with albatross feathers, typical of Ngatiawa. After successful battles it may also have sported gruesome war trophies.
When Rihari died, Paroa went with him to the family burial place at Te Umukuri. From there it lay disintegrating in Ruapara (East Bay) for many years and was damaged by a swamp fire. Late in 1934, two paddles and some of the forward section were sent to Canterbury Museum.
One sound piece of side-board was saved and given by the Watson family to Picton Historical Society in 1967. Timoti Tahuaroa Watson was a great-grandson of Paroa’s builder, and president of the society at the time, and he arranged for Ivor Te Puni to carve the board, which is displayed in Picton Museum.
Picton Museum, in London Quay, is open 10am to 4pm daily.