HŪRIA MARAE

HŪRIA MARAE

Long ago, there was a village called Kahakaharoa in the Taumata district. The village was perched on the cliff tops at the edge of a gorge with a river flowing far below. Taurikura was a puhi, a chief’s daughter and woman of high rank who lived in Kahakaharoa. Being the daughter of a chief, she had always been given everything she wanted; some even said she was a spoiled brat. When she grew up, she expected everything to be done for her.
One day, Taurikura’s koroua, Tahupokai, who was a very old man, asked Taurikura to get him some water from the river. The old man’s legs were weak, and it was difficult for him to make the trip down the steep track to the river in the gorge below. Taurikura told the old man she was too tired; she did not want to go and get the water.
The old man was very thirsty and there was one else around. His moko refused to go. There was nothing else for it; he decided he would have to go himself. He picked up an empty gourd or tahaawai which was used to carry water and slowly and carefully he made his way down the steep track to the river. When he reached the awa, he drank some water and filled the gourd to take back to the pā. Slowly and carefully he climbed back up the steep track cut into the cliff face. When the old man got back to the pā with his gourd full of water, Taurikura demanded some for herself. She was thirsty too so she drank from the tahaawai.
This was too much for the old man. It had been very painful for his stiff old bones to climb the long and steep track, while his granddaughter was young and healthy and had refused his request. Tahupokai began to scold Taurikura. He told her she was lazy, and asked her who she thought she was to expect everyone to run around after her. He went on and on and made a great speech, fuelled up by his anger and impatience at the cheeky young woman.