Episode 67; Hongi Invades Whangaroa (Part 3)

[@markberghan2975]

Once again a masterpiece in bringing this korero alive. One point you might make clear to your viewers. Like most harbours in Aotearoa, back in the day these were a lot deeper, clearer and extended a lot further inland. Following colonisation the clear-felling of forests led to massive amounts of run-off and sedimentation; everything got choked up and mangroves flourished. At the same time, Māori had always worked hard to keep their waterways clear; they were the highways of the day (and also to prevent natural damming and then subsequent flash floods), but that became impossible with the sedimentation. Many rural people will know how we still have working bees to clear streams and rivers to ensure there is no inadvertent damming. Travel by waka was a lot easier and rivers/streams could be navigated a lot further than what we see today; where we see shallow mangrove flats and shallow muddy rivers today would have been relatively deep, clear, unobstructed waters back then. While we might baulk at the idea of getting a 1000 men and supplies up the end of the Whangaroa/Whaingaroa, the waka on this taua would have been able to get a lot closer to Taratara then than you would expect today; the logistics would have been a lot simpler and faster with deep, clear waterways.

[@tommcg7564]

Yes similar situation in the ohiwa harbour, one of the most densely populated area of pā per square km, the other area is the Whakatane river valley

[@kiwicodger]

Yes, farming increases the rate of runoff, Lake Horowhenua is another example. Will look for an opportunity to mention this but probably not in the Whangaroa Series. The amount of wetlands that have been drained is huge, I guess we are wiser now, but a lot has been lost.

[@JoshyPapz]

What beautiful piece of information bro😤

[@brendanryan6740]

compelling korero...so good

[@gd5066]

I love your videos. They are fascinating.

[@njssmythe]

Another absorbing episode, looking forward to next one. Thanks Codger

[@jonobarnett4020]

Thanks for the upload codger! Top stuff, as per usual.

[@blaircorkran7309]

Excellent video editing and narration as per usual Codger :-)

[@kiwicodger]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MsHburnett]

I've been watching your videos for the last week just terrific , I had no idea about the musket wars .

[@kiwicodger]

I didn't either until I started studying it. I felt obliged to do this channel, not for any other reason than a sense of responsibility...glad you are enjoying and learning!

[@goldsharktooth]

Waiting on edge of seat for each & every 'next' episode. Thank you.

[@MsHburnett]

Have you covered the napier , ngati kahungunu in hawkes Bay?

[@paoragemmell7501]

He hasn't covered Ngati Kahungunu in Napier but he did do a 2 part series called Battle of the causeway, which covers Ngati Kahungunu in the battle of Te Roto a Tara, down near where Te Aute college is nowadays. Its an excellent watch!!!!

[@MozziTāne]

I'm keen to hear what the new plan was after the disappointment of not being able to use the cannon. Hongi didn't give up easily though.

[@kiwicodger]

Hongi can usually find a way. Only time I have been disappointed with Hongi is him using treachery to take Te Totara Pa in the Thames.

[@vwxyz0002]

A big "thumbs up" for another great posting. Your narrative really brings it all alive. Btw, did your right eye get too close to a musket shot? I don't want to detract from the basics of your posting but from a natural history perspective and living on the edge of a harbour that is experiencing expansion of mangroves I was particularly interested in the comments from Mark Berghan and Tom Mcg about the influence of sedimentation and mangroves. From what I read the mangroves commonly found in New Zealand are a local species going back 11,000 years (or considerably longer) with growing limits being restricted to about 38 deg south latitude (Kawhia to Ohiwa harbours). This would suggest mangroves had been extensively established well before anyone arrived in New Zealand and would have had a foothold in many northern harbours/sheltered waterways. From this, clearing would have presented a formidable task for a very small population. Presumedly climate restricts the range so it will be interesting to hear from any of your followers if there is evidence of spreading further south as temperatures rise. The recent landslips and pine slash problems make the issue of blocked waterways fairly topical so are mangroves/sedimentation build up going to compound the problem.

[@kiwicodger]

That's fascinating, I have never thought of that before. Does sedimentation promote their growth or is that not a factor.? Thanks for sharing.

[@che6630]

Wow! What computer app did you use to create this presentation? Awesome work!

[@kiwicodger]

DaVinci Resolve as an editor, Google Earth Pro and Ocam screen capture...and a lot of imagination :)

[@margrethughes4066]

Narrated in favour of one chief, clever Hika but he was not the only chief and he had the backing of missionaries. Short and sharp era