64 Transactions.— Miscellaneous. 
covered over with a network formed of saplings, and under this he placed the 
fifty men armed with spears and thrusting weapons, while he himself as 
soon as it was light, went out to lure the Pouakai from its nest. He did 
not go far before that destroyer spied him, and swooped down upon him. 
Hautere had now to run for his life, and just sueceeded in reaching the 
shelter of the network when the bird pounced upon him, and in its violent 
efforts to reach its prey, forced its legs through the meshes, and becoming 
entangled, the fifty men plunged their spears into its body and after a 
desperate encounter succeeded in killing it.* 
The Waitaha, after a peaceful occupation of what was then known as the 
“ food-abounding island," were obliged to resign possession of it into the 
hands of Ngatimamoe, and were ultimately destroyed or absorbed by them. 
Ngati ma moe a.D. 1577 to a.D. 1677. 
The origin of the Ngatimamoe is nearly as obscure as that of their 
predecessors. Like them they came from the North Island, being probably 
driven down before a stronger tribe. Their pitiless treatment of Waitaha 
was afterwards repeated upon themselves by the stronger and more warlike 
Ngai Tahu. Their destruction of the Waitaha and their own subsequent 
destruction, accounts for the absence of all traditions relating to the visit of 
Abel Tasman in 1642. Just as the destruction of the tribes inhabiting the 
shores of the straits by Rauparaha in this century, explains why no account 
of Captain Cook’s visit in 1769 has been preserved amongst the natives now 
residing in that neighbourhood. 
From the natives at the extreme south of the island, I obtained a 
genealogical table which traces their origin to the offspring of Awatopa. 
The following legend states the cause of their leaving the other island :— 
Awatopa and Rauru were brothers; sons of Ruarangi and Manu tai 
hapua. They both commenced to build houses for themselves at the same 
time. Rauru was the first to finish ; and having performed the ceremonies 
of purification, he announced his intention of going off on a voyage. His 
elder brother begged him to wait till he had completed his house, but this he 
refused to do, and, overcome with rage at his refusal, he killed him. The 
tribe hearing of what had taken place, avenged Rauru by killing Awatopa. 
This led to the secession of three families, children of the elder brother, 
namely—the Puhi kai ariki, Puhi manawanawa, and Matuku herekoti, 
who came south. The rest of the tribe remained behind. Relationship is 
claimed by the descendants of Ngatimamoe with Waikato through a Puhi of 
* Wereta Tainui, of Greymouth, says that near Inangahua there is a place called the 
Pouakai's Nest, and where tradition tells of one being killed. Irai Tihau of Wairewa saw 
at Poupoutunoa in Otago, in 1848, near the river Kaeaea, what was said to be a Pouakai's 
nest. The name may be translated the “ old glutton,” 
