Wahine toa: Hūria Mātenga
As a Māori woman, the prospect of writing on a subject like wāhine toa presented both a privilege and a responsibility – it’s a special topic.
But who to write about or mention when you have an obligation to share stories of great meaning and mana? Is it any of the incredible women that make up our top sportspeople, academics, and community heroes… or someone closer, like my beloved mum or grandmother?
Spoilt for choice, after a lot of consideration, reflection, and advice from cousins and family, more learned than I, I have chosen to share the story of an incredible woman that I proudly whakapapa to. Hūria Mātenga, 1840/’42 to 1909, Ngāti Tama, Te Āti Awa, and Ngāti Toa.
She was a woman of great mana and a significant landowner.
Born at Whakapuaka (near Nelson), Hūria could trace her genealogy back to the Tokomaru Canoe. She was known for her significant leadership qualities and her hospitality and was also an exceptional weaver. Her marriage, like many at the time, was arranged, and she and her husband were very active in both Māori and European communities.
Hūria’s name and reputation were to gain national prominence when, in 1863, she, along with her husband and three other men, rescued sailors whose boat, the Delaware, had hit rocks at the foot of a cliff at Whakapuaka. It was recorded that Hūria swam out to the boat at the height of the storm, assisting the captain in taking a lead line and securing it to boulders, allowing the ship to gain some stability, but this proved unsuccessful.
So, instead, she and the others swam out and individually assisted all the stricken crew back to land. All but one were saved.
It was an incredibly heroic feat in life-threatening circumstances and was deemed to be a selfless act. It was widely reported in the papers of the day, and this act of bravery was acknowledged at the highest levels.
It’s interesting to note that this occurred at a time of armed conflict elsewhere in New Zealand, mainly Taranaki and Waikato, and was considered to be a much-needed example of shared humanity.
I and all my extended whānau grew up with this story, and at home, we had a calendar with Huria’s picture on it hanging in a prominent position in the kitchen. Despite the years changing, the picture stayed, and I remember the quiet pride my father had when talking about who this incredible wahine toa was.
I also learnt that she was painted by Gottfried Lindauer in 1909, who was commissioned by the public of Nelson to acknowledge Hūria’s passing. This picture now resides at Te Papa and can be privately viewed by tīpuna.
Mana, heroism, selflessness, and a commitment to the land and the community encompassed this wonderful woman, and through the genes that my large group of cousins and I have inherited, I hope a little bit of that has rubbed off on all of us.