Taonga's return revives memories of bloody chapter

Te Oha that will be relocated to the Rotorua Museum. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Memories of a bloody chapter in Rotorua's past have been revived by the historic return of a Maori storage house that has stood in Auckland Museum for more than a century.

The storage house, or pataka, is being assembled at Rotorua Museum of Art and History. Named Te Oha, the pataka was built about 1825 by Ngati Pikiao chief and carver Tahuriorangi.

It was later presented as a wedding gift to Rotorua chief Haerehuka, who married Tahuriorangi's sister.

Haerehuka moved it to Ohinemutu, in the heart of Rotorua, and was later involved in an incident that led to the killing of Te Hunga, a cousin of powerful Waikato chief Te Waharoa.

As Te Hunga's body was placed inside the pataka, Te Waharoa and his army swept through Ohinemutu out of revenge for his cousin's death and nearly obliterated the settlement.

"They nearly sacked it, but the Waikato chiefs decided that was enough and left," said Neville Nepia, a descendent of Tahuriorangi, who has been involved with the return.

It took three months to dismantle the pataka in Auckland, before it was carefully transported down in 18 crates.

Museum director Greg McManus said Te Oha was one of the most significant taonga ever to be displayed in Rotorua. Visitors will be able to view it at the grand reopening of the museum next month.