The Hill With The Split Lip

Most times we go to Pukawa we pass through the historic battle site of Orakau where, in 1864, one of the last battles (between 3000 Pakeha troops and 300 Maori) took place.  The Maori were given the chance of letting the women and children pass through the cordon.  Rewi Maniopoto is said to have cried that the men would fight forever - Ake, Ake.  Ahumai, sister of one of the defenders at Orakau cried out that if the men were to die the women and children would die with them.  Some escaped but 160 warriors were buried at Orakau.  Ahumai received bullet wounds to the chest, shoulder and wrist and had her thumb shot off while helping to reload the muskets and giving water to the wounded.  She died 40 years later at Mokai on the shores of Lake Taupo.

Orakau 1864

This Good Friday

we climbed Tihia

not Calvary

yesterday our road

thoughtlessly bisected

the battlesite of Orakau

where red and green coats

Ahumai Te Paerata

breached the palisades

where some gave the bayonet

and others water

it is remembered.

Ahumai survived

scarred for forty years

        we will fight

        today, ake, ake

        the inevitability

        of change and death

the hill with the split lip

is silent

only water gushes

from its side.