An interview with Remutaka

This kōrero (story) was written by Rawiri Smith

Interviewer: Kia ora e hoa (friend). I’ve heard you changed your name.

Remutaka: No, finally people will pronounce my name properly.

Interviewer: So it’s Remutaka right?

Remutaka: Yes that’s the name my friend Te Haunui gave me.

Interviewer: What does it mean?

Remutaka: To sit down because that is what Te Haunui did, He was taking in the view of Wairarapa Moana and he felt so comfortable he sat down and relaxed. It was a cloudless day and the moana was blue. That doesn’t happen very often.

Interviewer: Are there many other memorable days?

Remutaka: Yeah, one memorable day, was a sad day.

Interviewer: Why? What happened?

Remutaka: We used to have a beautiful bird called a huia. It wore the feather of a chief. People would whistle to it and like a mōkai (pet), the huia would come right up to them. Then the sound of a shotgun silenced that beautiful huia. 

Interviewer: Back then the dawn chorus was deafening.

Remutaka: Yes, but that makes not hearing the missing voices even sadder.

Interviewer: Do you have other memories?

Remutaka: There was a time when the people of Wairarapa made me the peace tohu (symbol). I was known as the maunga rongo (peaceful mountain) because anyone traveling over me would travel in peace.

Interviewer: Why were you a symbol of peace?

Remutaka: The chief, Pehi Tutepakahirangi made peace between east and west and he wanted a Rongotaketake (everlasting peace). He said the maunga was something that stood as long as we wanted to have peace.

Interviewer: You haven’t always stood still though.

Remutaka: No, even now other maunga ask me when I’ll stop growing because a millimeter a year is a bit uppity. I usually answer as long as I don’t go through a growth spurt like in 1855 I’ll be happy.

Interviewer: What happened in 1855?

Remutaka: Rūaumoko (the god of earthquakes) reminded me he could be uplifting

Interviewer: That’s still the record isn’t it?

Remutaka: Yeah, raising some parts 6 metres and moving other parts 18 metres sideways was a bit of a shock. Despite that I’m still standing like the peace of Wairarapa has stood since the time of Pehi.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I am an uri of Wairarapa. That is more than people, outstanding people. I am descended from explorers like Kupe, Whatonga and Tamatea Ariki; the priestly Popoto, Ruawharo and Tupai in the waka kōrero; the whare wānaga professors include Matorohanga, Nukutamaroro and Nepia Pohuhu; hapū leaders like Taaneroa, Moeteao and Hintearorangi. Then there is the ancestor who brought peace, Rongotaketake, Nukupewapewa. I am humble to descend from Gods, Io, Ranginui, Papatūānuku are familiar as is Tāne, but other atua like Hinemoana and Rongomaiwhakateka too. This context means I descend from the land and the waters, including Wairarapa Moana. I am Rawiri Smith.