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By: Teena Henderson3rd Oct 2022 10:51PMHi there, do you have a source/sources for the picture & information? Thanks.

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ALBUM - Greymouth / Mawhera , Maori Heritage.

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DescriptionAt the beginning of the 19th century, 1805 or thereabouts, there was a fairly large Maori Pa on the west side of the Mawhera River, (Grey River) close to the end of the present Cobden Bridge, Greymouth. It was attacked and destroyed about that time by a war party from Kaikoura. When the attack was made, the majority of the adult population of the pa were absent. The raiders burnt the whares and canoes of the Mawhera Maori and killed those who were unable to escape. They then made off with all the greenstone they could find.
Many of the women and children had fled to the bush for safety. The Kaikoura warriors retreated up the Grey River. Thinking they were safe from the utu of the Mawhera tribesmen, they camped on the high ground at the junction of the Ahaura and Grey Rivers, practically on the site of the present peaceful township of Ahaura.
But they were out in their reckoning. Long years of experience had taught the Mawhera people how to meet just such emergencies. With characteristic caution they always had some canoes hidden away. Swift messengers carried the news of the disaster to the absent fighting men. Other hapu south of Greymouth, joined in and the avengers, at nightfall, paddled swiftly up the Mawhera River. Before daybreak they made a surprise attack on the sleeping camp. The Kaikoura warriors were overpowered; many were killed, others jumped off the cliff into the Ahaura River and were drowned; some were taken prisoner. These last provided a feast which lasted many days.
The victors abandoned their former place of abode and built a new stronghold on the east side of the Grey River, not a great distance from the present Greymouth Railway Station. Here they remained in occupation for a good many years after Greymouth was established in 1864.
The last of the prisoners taken at the Ahaura were killed some months after, on an island in Lake Brunner (Te Moana Roa).Map^[1]ContributorTony Kokshoorn

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Location (city or town)Greymouth

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Category TagMaori

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Date Created3rd October 2022CommentsChris Munn
The short term outlook for prisoners wasn’t great.

Kerry Molloy
Chris Munn yup no problem with prison stats in those days squire.

Heather Newby
Ive been on that island at Lake Brunner.

Alison Bruhn Clarke
Dougy Petley

Cheryl Townsend
Very interesting to read thank you

Kathryn Ward
Interesting info, thank you

John Flattery-donohoe
so were the kaikoura warriors of ngai tahi .?

Tony Kokshoorn
John Flattery-donohoe Yes
John Flattery-donohoe
Tony Kokshoorn well thats interesting

Shona Ratana
Thanks for this history information. Would have been great to have learnt this as a child growing up in the area.
Ian A Cox
There is a cave up on the hill behind the railway station found it as high school kids does it contain bones?

Tony Kokshoorn
No. The Maori burial cave was on the main intersection where the road from Smith street turns onto Mawhera Quay heading to Omoto .There is a Concrete cross in the ground which marks the cave entrance. It is still there today.
Trish Rennie
With such happenings it’s a wonder there are any Māori remaining….Perhaps they have the colonists to thank for putting an end to the tribal warfare….

Pam Englefield-Absolum
Trish Rennie they do. it was the ministers of religion that stopped the cannabalism.

Pam Englefield-Absolum
Oh, so much for peaceful tribal relations. Canabalism as well. Oh dear there was plenty of tribal warfare before 1840s.

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