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He Pukapuka Tātaku i Ngā Mahi a Te Rauparaha Nui / A Record of the Life of the Great Te Rauparaha
‘Kāore kau he kaumātua hei rite mō Te Rauparaha te mōhio ki te whawhai, me te toa hoki, me te tino tangata ki te
atawhai tangata.’
‘There has never been a man equal to Te Rauparaha in terms of knowledge of warfare and prowess in battle, as well
in being so dedicated to looking after people.’ – Tamihana Te Rauparaha
____
The book that took 150 years to make it into print!
A rare and valuable account of the life and times of Te Rauparaha, one of the most renowned and
divisive figures in the history of Aotearoa New Zealand and composer of the haka ‘Ka mate’, made
famous by the All Blacks.
Written in te reo Māori in the 1860s by Te Rauparaha’s son, Tamihana
Te Rauparaha, and translated today by Te Rauparaha’s descendant Ross
Calman, this taonga is finally available in both te reo Māori and English
within one edition.
Te Rauparaha is most well known today as the composer of the haka
'Ka mate’, made famous the world over by New Zealand’s national rugby
team, who have been performing it for over a century. He is venerated by
his own descendants among Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Raukawa and widely
reviled by those tribes who were on the receiving end of his military
campaigns during the ‘musket wars’ of the 1820s and 1830s.
‘He pukapuka tātaku i ngā mahi a Te Rauparaha nui’ is a 50,000-
word account in te reo Māori of Te Rauparaha’s life written by his son,
Tamihana Te Rauparaha, between 1866 and 1869. It focuses on the events
of the 1820s and 1830s, an era characterised by intertribal conflict, and
the resulting displacement and resettlement of tribal groups, as well as by
the increasing interaction between the Māori and Pākehā worlds.
A pioneering work of Māori (and, indeed, indigenous) biography, Tamihana’s narrative weaves together the
oral accounts of his father and other elders, with his own recollections using, what was then for Māori, the
new medium of writing. However, sadly, due to a succession of poor interpretations of Tamihana’s work, his
achievement in authoring this manuscript has gone largely unappreciated in the 150 years since it was written.
This current work publishes for the first time Tamihana’s complete manuscript in a parallel Māori/English
edition. To assist readers, modern conventions of spelling and grammar have been applied to Tamihana’s Māori
text, while the English translation is completely new.
atawhai tangata.’
‘There has never been a man equal to Te Rauparaha in terms of knowledge of warfare and prowess in battle, as well
in being so dedicated to looking after people.’ – Tamihana Te Rauparaha
____
The book that took 150 years to make it into print!
A rare and valuable account of the life and times of Te Rauparaha, one of the most renowned and
divisive figures in the history of Aotearoa New Zealand and composer of the haka ‘Ka mate’, made
famous by the All Blacks.
Written in te reo Māori in the 1860s by Te Rauparaha’s son, Tamihana
Te Rauparaha, and translated today by Te Rauparaha’s descendant Ross
Calman, this taonga is finally available in both te reo Māori and English
within one edition.
Te Rauparaha is most well known today as the composer of the haka
'Ka mate’, made famous the world over by New Zealand’s national rugby
team, who have been performing it for over a century. He is venerated by
his own descendants among Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Raukawa and widely
reviled by those tribes who were on the receiving end of his military
campaigns during the ‘musket wars’ of the 1820s and 1830s.
‘He pukapuka tātaku i ngā mahi a Te Rauparaha nui’ is a 50,000-
word account in te reo Māori of Te Rauparaha’s life written by his son,
Tamihana Te Rauparaha, between 1866 and 1869. It focuses on the events
of the 1820s and 1830s, an era characterised by intertribal conflict, and
the resulting displacement and resettlement of tribal groups, as well as by
the increasing interaction between the Māori and Pākehā worlds.
A pioneering work of Māori (and, indeed, indigenous) biography, Tamihana’s narrative weaves together the
oral accounts of his father and other elders, with his own recollections using, what was then for Māori, the
new medium of writing. However, sadly, due to a succession of poor interpretations of Tamihana’s work, his
achievement in authoring this manuscript has gone largely unappreciated in the 150 years since it was written.
This current work publishes for the first time Tamihana’s complete manuscript in a parallel Māori/English
edition. To assist readers, modern conventions of spelling and grammar have been applied to Tamihana’s Māori
text, while the English translation is completely new.
- GenresNonfiction
368 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 12, 2025
Wow....an incredible read about an incredible warrior chief.
Highly recommend more people learn about this person who changed the face of New Zealand history more than anyone .
Highly recommend more people learn about this person who changed the face of New Zealand history more than anyone .
February 16, 2022
Fascinating account written in 1860s from primary and oral sources. Deeply reflective of Ngati Toa perspective, this source should be used in conjunction with range of other sources, particularly from other iwi and hapu concerned. Tamihana is writing for his time, when the Land Courts were alienating Māori land and he is partly trying to establish the claims of his iwi. This accounts makes no mention of other Ngati Toa leaders, including Kahe o te Rau o te Rangi, Ropata Hurumutu or Rawiri Puaha, claims victories in battle which were drawn or defeats and is inconsistent with other accounts of key incidents.
Must read for anyone interested in this period!
Must read for anyone interested in this period!
September 16, 2023
Utterly fascinating. A first-hand account of a pivotal time for Aotearoa New Zealand, itemising events before, during, and after of the immediate period of the Treaty of Waitangi. It was also interesting to see the influence of the gospel on this fascinating man. Calman's translation flows beautifully, and his efforts are enhanced by his respectful engagement with the te reo Māori text provided on each facing page. Excellent, well worth the read for anyone interested in the history of Aotearoa - especially for anyone living in the lower North and upper South Islands (a view of Kāpiti island is a five-minute walk for me).
January 1, 2023
29.4.2022 It is around the twentieth page of the manuscript that things start getting human. It started as summaries of warfare, but the starting of Te Rauparaha’s decision to migrate Ngati Toa to Te-Whanganui-a-Tara brings the images of a tribe of 400 travelling day by day across Te-Ika-a-Maui. Thinking about all those people’s relationships. And then how Tamihana talks about his mother. The provenance of this move is immense. “Hei aha māna ēnā riri a ēnā tūtūā.” Which my father translates as calling Hape’s brothers “nobodies.” That’s iconic. Tamihana sounds savage like my poua calling other traffic “slowpokes.”
Coming off of Jack London’s fictional and spiritually inclined dog biographies, this is not a huge leap away. But more reminiscent it is of ‘The Pillow Book.’ The ancient Japanese maid’s diary. It is certain passages that feel this way. Like, “They were so delighted that their deaths had been avenged, you should have seen the food: boars complete with tusks, lamprey, taro, kūmara, potatoes and every other kind of food you can think of.” The listing sensibility, the word “delighted,” I read this sentence in a very feminine nostalgic voice. “The sea could not be seen as it was covered in canoes. It was a beautiful night, calm and still, like the kind you get in autumn.”
Te Pēhi’s pursuit and boarding of the Queen Charlotte is hilarious. The stubborn methods and conveniences of things. All these white guys trying to ply his strong hold off as he hangs there, firm. His immediate Europeanisation. Potential assimilation. This is how to take advantage of the white man?
By the way, some of the details confused me earlier. Most recently, Ngati Toa take off in canoes in pursuit of people who don’t think Ngati Toa have canoes. It is not explained where they got them so if lead to some futile double backing. “The time when only people’s knees are visible” went over my head. Unless it is in reference to entry of a wharenui.
That’s pretty funny this chief said he’d mash up Te Rauparaha’s head with a fernroot pounder only to be slaughtered for it. I’m imagining the crossing of Raukawa as an epic set piece. Many more comments like this came in discussion with my parents over the week. You had to be there.
Perhaps the specialist most sentimental book I could ever hope to read at this point in time. It is a historical wonder.
History does not interest me, this may be due to school texts/being forced to study history at all—keyword “forced.” I might’ve gotten into history if it was there to be discovered in the way I feel like I am discovering a magic portal to the most important part of my heritage and ancestry, past those people who I share blood with and have met first hand. To the society of Māori pre-colonisation and assimilation (I imagined there weren’t guns with satisfaction—it feels wrong). I expect that the proceedings of Te Rauparaha et al were true to the customs of at least the century before Te Rauparaha. My dad puts in the introduction (I haven’t come across professions of undying paternal love over me nor my sister aside from in subtext—a couple of our names cropping up) how he was somewhat disturbed by the cannibalism and savagery, or I should say violence that was “The Māori Way.” I was almost pleased to hear these things, in any case I was unperturbed, perhaps desensitised by modern media but no less disheartening than growing up around the real deal would be. (I was a little grossed out a couple times but I soldiered through it with awe and respect.) It empowers me to read about Māori warfare as it was. I pretty much imagined taiahas into every fight much like Chang Cheh brings topless men. I love imagining people getting poked by taiaha. Imagining the brutalisation of a Māori body by lead is not ideal, it feels wrong. My imagining of it is pretty much based on shots from ‘Utu,’ seen in fragments while at school.
Thought it was curious the manuscript doesn’t mention ‘Ka Mate.’ My dad did talk about the haka in the thinking that it was perhaps a traditional haka by the time Te Rauparaha delivered it to another chief, but he is the earliest person credited with it.
There are four movies I would like made based around this manuscript. The earliest was a couple years ago around this edition’s publication. A melancholic biopic of Tamihana in the vein of ‘Van Gogh.’ This idea was before I knew Tamihana was an active member in Māori affairs as relates to the state of New Zealand. I pictured Tamihana as a bored person in the shadow of his father without aim until he fixes upon his writing. Not knowing how many people surround him. Thinking he was alone in a mansion or something. The other movies are, the obvious Te Paraha biopic based directly on this, whether or not it’s through Tamihana’s perspective. Based on how many conflicts there are this may be best as a series of battle set pieces in which smart writing and downtime reveals a neat portrait of Te Rauparaha Nui. The other one is following Te Pēhi and his romantic journey to England with this captain. Another is a genre movie which is a montage of older white men being slain by Māori and preferably eaten.
Best Christmas present ever, ka pai Ross. I’m sorry to say I can’t confirm what exactly is next in Ross Calman’s long form work yet to be published.
Coming off of Jack London’s fictional and spiritually inclined dog biographies, this is not a huge leap away. But more reminiscent it is of ‘The Pillow Book.’ The ancient Japanese maid’s diary. It is certain passages that feel this way. Like, “They were so delighted that their deaths had been avenged, you should have seen the food: boars complete with tusks, lamprey, taro, kūmara, potatoes and every other kind of food you can think of.” The listing sensibility, the word “delighted,” I read this sentence in a very feminine nostalgic voice. “The sea could not be seen as it was covered in canoes. It was a beautiful night, calm and still, like the kind you get in autumn.”
Te Pēhi’s pursuit and boarding of the Queen Charlotte is hilarious. The stubborn methods and conveniences of things. All these white guys trying to ply his strong hold off as he hangs there, firm. His immediate Europeanisation. Potential assimilation. This is how to take advantage of the white man?
By the way, some of the details confused me earlier. Most recently, Ngati Toa take off in canoes in pursuit of people who don’t think Ngati Toa have canoes. It is not explained where they got them so if lead to some futile double backing. “The time when only people’s knees are visible” went over my head. Unless it is in reference to entry of a wharenui.
That’s pretty funny this chief said he’d mash up Te Rauparaha’s head with a fernroot pounder only to be slaughtered for it. I’m imagining the crossing of Raukawa as an epic set piece. Many more comments like this came in discussion with my parents over the week. You had to be there.
Perhaps the specialist most sentimental book I could ever hope to read at this point in time. It is a historical wonder.
History does not interest me, this may be due to school texts/being forced to study history at all—keyword “forced.” I might’ve gotten into history if it was there to be discovered in the way I feel like I am discovering a magic portal to the most important part of my heritage and ancestry, past those people who I share blood with and have met first hand. To the society of Māori pre-colonisation and assimilation (I imagined there weren’t guns with satisfaction—it feels wrong). I expect that the proceedings of Te Rauparaha et al were true to the customs of at least the century before Te Rauparaha. My dad puts in the introduction (I haven’t come across professions of undying paternal love over me nor my sister aside from in subtext—a couple of our names cropping up) how he was somewhat disturbed by the cannibalism and savagery, or I should say violence that was “The Māori Way.” I was almost pleased to hear these things, in any case I was unperturbed, perhaps desensitised by modern media but no less disheartening than growing up around the real deal would be. (I was a little grossed out a couple times but I soldiered through it with awe and respect.) It empowers me to read about Māori warfare as it was. I pretty much imagined taiahas into every fight much like Chang Cheh brings topless men. I love imagining people getting poked by taiaha. Imagining the brutalisation of a Māori body by lead is not ideal, it feels wrong. My imagining of it is pretty much based on shots from ‘Utu,’ seen in fragments while at school.
Thought it was curious the manuscript doesn’t mention ‘Ka Mate.’ My dad did talk about the haka in the thinking that it was perhaps a traditional haka by the time Te Rauparaha delivered it to another chief, but he is the earliest person credited with it.
There are four movies I would like made based around this manuscript. The earliest was a couple years ago around this edition’s publication. A melancholic biopic of Tamihana in the vein of ‘Van Gogh.’ This idea was before I knew Tamihana was an active member in Māori affairs as relates to the state of New Zealand. I pictured Tamihana as a bored person in the shadow of his father without aim until he fixes upon his writing. Not knowing how many people surround him. Thinking he was alone in a mansion or something. The other movies are, the obvious Te Paraha biopic based directly on this, whether or not it’s through Tamihana’s perspective. Based on how many conflicts there are this may be best as a series of battle set pieces in which smart writing and downtime reveals a neat portrait of Te Rauparaha Nui. The other one is following Te Pēhi and his romantic journey to England with this captain. Another is a genre movie which is a montage of older white men being slain by Māori and preferably eaten.
Best Christmas present ever, ka pai Ross. I’m sorry to say I can’t confirm what exactly is next in Ross Calman’s long form work yet to be published.
May 20, 2025
Deft respect to the original text, and really well researched
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews