Chapter 12

Wakefield cleared his throat and Dickie Barrett stepped forward and greeted Te Puni with a traditional hongi. Te Puni bent down to the shorter Barrett as they pressed noses and foreheads together briefly in the traditional Māori greeting. As Barrett welcomed Te Puni, Te Wharepouri continued his appraisal of Wakefield, studying his uniform and the many adornments on it. Te Wharepouri was impressed, the fabric looked strong and held colour easily, and it was not coarse, but woven finely and looked durable. He must obtain such cloth but without the useless decorations, he thought.

Barrett then greeted Te Wharepouri with a hongi, who returned the gesture by holding out his arm and shaking Barrett's hand in the Pakeha custom that he'd learned.

Once Te Wharepouri and Te Puni had been formally announced to Wakefield, they were introduced to the senior members of the group. Barrett's attempt at translating amounted to nothing more than a few words and half sentences. Te Puni, who did not understand the Pakeha language, struggled with Barrett's interpreting skills and eventually, with the odd whisper in his ear by Te Wharepouri, he understood all that was happening.

Chief Te Wharepouri had been around many Pakeha; those he met during his two visits to Australia, and the whalers and missionaries who now lived scattered throughout this land. Certainly not fluent, although he had made every attempt to learn the language spoken by these men and could understand much of what they spoke. Te Wharepouri enjoyed the fact that no one was aware of this and he wasn't about to be forthcoming now.

After the introductions, Barrett and Wakefield led the chiefs below to his cabin, where Wakefield would make known his objective to purchase land. Young Jerningham, as secretary, was invited to attend and write notes.

"What interesting men," stated Eleanor, once the deck had been restored to order.

"Yes, but it was unsettling at first when the younger chief Te Wharepouri looked at us," replied Andrew.

"He is a great warrior and fought in many battles," said Ngaiti proudly.

"What do you think they're doing now?" asked Eleanor.

"I presume Colonel Wakefield will be making his intentions understood, and hopefully Te Wharepouri and Te Puni will agree to sell land. I'm sure we will know soon enough," replied Andrew.

Ngaiti was leaning over the rail and shook his head.

In the language of his people, Te Puni said with formal dignity, "We are honoured that you have come to visit with us and we welcome you here as our guests. What is the purpose of your visit and how can we be of help?"

Wakefield turned to Dickie Barrett for the translation.

"He asks, why have you come?"

"We have come here to offer a wonderful opportunity to you. We bring many gifts of value that we can exchange for the purchase of some of your land," said Wakefield, with the confidence of a hawker.

"The Pakeha want land and bring gifts," Barrett said to the chiefs.

Te Puni and Te Wharepouri conferred with each other briefly.

"How much land do you need and what do you intend to do with this land? Will Pakeha make this land their home?" asked Te Puni.

Wakefield turned to Barrett expectantly.

"What will Pakeha do here?" Dickie replied.

Wakefield nodded and pretended to give his reply dutiful consideration. "We intend to build a modern township on suitable land, so that the colonists can prosper and live in peace."

To Te Puni Barrett said, "They will live here in peace."

Again, the two chiefs conferred quietly.

Jerningham was writing furiously, attempting to keep up with the dialogue. His own impressions were positive and this reflected in his accounts. He was impressed with Barrett's translation skills; his responses were direct, succinct and spoken with confidence.

"How many Pakeha will come here to make this land their home?" asked Te Puni.

To Wakefield, Barrett translated, "Will many Pakeha come here?"

"Tell him yes," said Wakefield.

"Yes, many Pakeha will come," said Dickie Barrett.

Te Wharepouri spoke. "Ask Wakefield again, how many Pakeha will live here?"

For the briefest of moments, Dickie Barrett's eyes flashed at Te Wharepouri.

"Chief Te Wharepouri asks, how many will come here?" said Barrett.

"Tell the chief, ships will bring many, many people here. People who will fill the streets and build many grand homes and farm the land," said Colonel Wakefield enthusiastically.

"Some ships will bring Pakeha to walk on the paths and live in their homes," Barrett responded to Te Wharepouri.

Chief Te Wharepouri held the gaze of Barrett, his eyes narrowed.

William Wakefield suggested he'd like to see the land and its features first hand, whereat an agreement was quickly reached and Te Wharepouri would guide Wakefield the following day on an inspection. Te Puni would not accompany them, as he was needed in his village. A halting, polite discussion continued for a short time, then the two chiefs quietly returned to their waiting canoes. After the two chiefs departed and were heading back to their village, the Tory moved further into the bay and dropped anchor safely in the lee of Matiu Island.

Colonel Wakefield sat alone in his cabin and after a glass or two of wine, loosened his tunic, placed his feet on his writing desk and contemplated the day's events. He was eminently pleased, feeling that the first preliminary discussions with the two chiefs went rather well. Tomorrow he would be able to see the land for himself and establish the location of the town he wanted to create. If all went according to plan, the first ship, the Aurora, would soon arrive full of colonists eager to settle the land they had paid for, land he had yet to purchase. Wakefield knew he needed to obtain land, and soon. His smile disappeared at the thought of Colonial Secretary, Lord Russell's reaction to the news that the New Zealand Company had acquired land and would begin colonisation. He would be rather displeased. What steps would the Colonial Office take? He wished his brother Edward were here, he always dispensed sound advice.