Te Maire Tau writes: 'I first came across the Carrington typescript in 1987 when, as an under-graduate, I was researching our tribe's history in the Alexander Turnbull Library. Reading the text, I was captured for the rest of the day. Besides the exhilaration that historians always feel on coming across an old and little known manuscript, the story that Carrington told read differently from the standard histories of Ngāi Tahu written by nineteenth-century scholars...'

Journalist Hugh Carrington wrote a history of Ngāi Tahu in the 1930s, drawing on the knowledge of Oaro elder Hariata Beaton-Morel and earlier scholars. This text has been framed and edited by Te Maire Tau and Atholl Anderson, creating a history of Ngāi Tahu's migration from the Wellington region through to Rakiura. Complementary traditions, in particular those recorded by Thomas Green, are also included.

This remarkable account presents oral tradition alongside archaeological evidence and narrative history. The editors both have extensive experience in researching the past of southern New Zealand, particularly Ngāi Tahu. Te Maire Tau lectures in history at Canterbury University; Atholl Anderson is Professor of Prehistory, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University.

Foreword by Sir Tipene O'Regan. Published in association with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Contents                                                       

Foreword Sir Tipene O'Regan
Preface Te Maire Tau
Acknowledgements
Introduction 1: The Carrington Text and Ngāi Tahu History Te Maire Tau
Editorial Note
Introduction 2: A Migration History Atholl Anderson
The Carrington Text Hugh Carrington
Introductions: Atholl Anderson
Commentaries: Te Maire Tau

Chapter 1: The Beginning
     Commentary 1.1: The Waitaha People (Herewini Ira)
     Commentary 1.2: Whakapapa of Rākaihautū

Chapter 2: Tūāhuriri
     Commentary 2.1: The Lineage of Tūāhuriri

Chapter 3: Intermarriage and Battle 
     Commentary 3.1: The Questioning of 
          Te Huataki (Tāpiha Te Wanikau) 
     Commentary 3.2 Pū-Harakeke-Tapu (Tāpiha 
          Te Wanikau)

Chapter 4: Ngāi Tahu in Tory Channel

Chapter 5: Hinerongo's Romance
     Commentary 5.2: Te Rakitauneke

Chapter 6: The Fall of Waipapa

Chapter 7: On to Kaikōura
     Commentary 7.1: The Battle of Tetewhai – The 
          Carrington-Stack Debate 
     Commentary 7.2: The Handing of the Pōhā (Tipene 
          O'Regan)

Chapter 8: Peketā and Ōpōkihi
     Commentary 8.1: Bulrushes in the Morning Wind

Chapter 9: Ngāi Tahu Reinforcements

Chapter 10: Tukiauau's Revenge
     Commentary 10.1: Maru's Advice to Tukiauau

Chapter 11: Exit Tukiauau

Chapter 12: Fresh Fields to Conquer
     Commentary 12.1: The Ritual Reporting of Devastation 
          (Hoani Kāhu) 
     Commentary 12.2: Take-taunaha (Naming and Claiming 
          the Land) 
     Commentary 12.3: ‘You may eat the head of your lady 
          paramount'

Chapter 13: Occupation of Canterbury 
     Commentary 13.1:The Settlement of Canterbury (Hoani 
          Kāhu and Nātanahira Waruwarutū) 
     Commentary 13.2: A Drowning on the West Coast 
          (Teone Māmaru) 
     Commentary 13.3: The Settlement of Banks Peninsula 
          (The Carrington-Green Debate)

Chapter 14: Reverse for Ngāi Tahu
     Commentary 14.1: The Death of Kaweriri (Hoani Kāhu)

Chapter 15: Turbulent Chiefs
     Commentary 15.1: Invocation to the Mother

Chapter 16: Internecine Strife
     Commentary 16.1: Te Wera's Revenge (Nātanahira 
          Waruwarutū) 
     Commentary 16.2: The Identity of Te Wera

Chapter 17: Attacks on Ōmihi

Chapter 18: The Last Battles
     Commentary 18.1: The Battle and Capture of Tarewai 
          (Natanahirā Waruwarutū)

Chapter 19: The Kai-huānga (‘Eat Relation') Feud
     Commentary 19.1: The Kai-huānga Feud 
     Commentary 19.2: The Attack on Taumutu (Hākopa Te 
          Ataotū)

Chapter 20: Te Rauparaha at Kaiapoi
     Commentary 20.1: Defeat at Kaiapoi (Paora Taki) 
     Commentary 20.2: Hēnare Mahuika and Īhāia Tainui

Chapter 21: Te Rauparaha's Revenge
     Commentary 21.1: Divining the Fate of Kaiapoi 
          (Nātanahira Waruwarutū) 
     Commentary 21.2: The Departure of Taiaroa (Paora 
          Taki) 
     Commentary 21.3: The Death of Tāwaka and 
          Tūhawaiki-a-weka (Henare Mahuika and Īhāia Tainui)

Chapter 22: Ngäi Tahu Strike Back
     Commentary 22.1: The Last Campaign (Natanahirā 
          Waruwarutū) 
     Commentary 22.2: A Threatened Attack (Wiremu Te 
          Uki)

Epilogue Te Maire Tau
Whakapapa
Appendix 1: The Carrington Family Te Maire Tau
Appendix 2: Additional Text from the Carrington Typescript
List of Maps and Illustrations
Bibliography
Index