Maraea Moana Mahaki Poynter

https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1m54/morete-maraea
Maraea Mōrete, also known as Maria Morris, is said to have been born on 24 July 1844 at Whakaari, near Tāngōio, Hawke's Bay, although she may have been born at Waikōkopu, Māhia. She was the eldest child of Puihi and William Morris. Puihi was a woman of mana of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, the people of the Tūranga plain, inland from Poverty Bay. She died in 1856. William Morris was an Irishman who had come to New Zealand from Sydney, New South Wales, about 1837. He worked at J. W. Harris's whaling station at Poverty Bay and in the 1840s was whaling and trading in Hawke's Bay. Maraea was sent to school at the Wesleyan Native Institution, Auckland. In 1861, after returning home to her father, she decided to join her mother's people on the Tūranga plain. In 1863 she married Pera Taihuka, a man of rank and a strong adherent of the Anglican mission at Waerenga-a-hika.

In 1865 the impact of the Pai Mārire religion drew most of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki men into fighting. Pera and Maraea were for a time followers of Pai Mārire. She described the ritual of this faith as 'fine fun', but left because 'I did not really believe in it'.

Maraea and Pera joined Wī Pere's village on the Waipaoa River, at Matawhero. In November 1868 European settlers a little way upriver were killed by followers of Te Kooti. By chance one of the raiding parties came into contact with Wī Pere's people. Most escaped, but Maraea and her child were among those captured. When Pera joined the captives, he and another family were executed on Te Kooti's orders. Maraea and her child were set aside with the other women. They were Te Kooti's prisoners for two weeks, and were later joined by others, including Wī Pere. When Te Kooti was attacked at Mākāretu many prisoners got away in the confusion. One party was led by Maraea. She joined Wī Pere in the bush and reached safety after five days' travel. The following spring Maraea appeared as a witness before the Supreme Court in Wellington, at the trials of captured followers of Te Kooti.

In 1869 Maraea Mōrete began to give evidence to the Native Land Court at Tūranga (Gisborne), to ensure her family's rights to their lands. A large area extending north-west from the Tūranga plain towards the source of the Waipaoa River was identified. In due course her brothers and sisters came to settle on their land. Photographs of Maraea, probably from the 1860s, show her in both Māori and European dress, with a moko on her chin.

About 1873 Maraea had a son, whose father was J. B. Poynter, a farmer. In later years she recorded recollections of her life from her school-days until her escape from Te Kooti. She included descriptions of Pai Mārire ritual, as well as the account of her captivity. About 1890 she became an active member of the Salvation Army. She lived on tribal land at Ruangārehu, Te Karaka, where she died on 8 October 1907, after being badly burned in a fire. She was buried near her mother, Puihi, in the tribal cemetery at Waerenga-a-hika. At her funeral two Anglican clergymen officiated, one in English, the other in Māori, and a Salvation Army officer gave an eulogy.

From Maraea Morete MyHeritage: Maraea Morris was the daughter of an Irish whaler and a high-born East Coast woman. She was one of a group of Māori captured by Te Kooti in 1868. She escaped and lived in Gisborne, where a friend later convinced her to join the Salvation Army. She served as colour-sergeant of the Gisborne corps, carrying its flag at the head of church parades.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PBH18880616.2.6?items_...
Maria Morris, whose name has been very prominent in connection with the native corps of the Salvation Army, has in her time had some hairbreadth escapes in flood and field. Educated at Three Kings Institution in Auckland, she married a chief of high rank, who was murdered before her eyes by Te Kooti, when that chief returned from the Chatham Islands, and made a raid on Poverty Bay. She herself was carried off by Te Kooti, but effected her escape when the rebels were attacked, and returned to Poverty Bay. To-night she is to address the Band of Hope at the Baptist Church, Wellington, and her remarks will be interpreted by Mr Eb. Baker— N.Z, Times.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PBH19071009.2.23?items...
Poverty Bay Herald 9 October 1907
A well-known Karaka resident dies from burns. A death resulting from a shocking accident, occurred at Te Karaka last night, the victim being Mrs Maria Morris, aged 63, well-known throughout the district. She was at home at her house at Ruangarehu, Te Karaka, the other inmate of the house being a little boy, aged 8. About 3 yesterday morning, as near as the time can be placed, Mrs Morris went near the fireplace, where there was fire .burning, and being seized with a fit, she fell about the fireplace, her clothing catching fire. It is not quite clear whether her clothing caught alight from the embers or from the candle she had beside her. She was subject to epileptic fits and had a habit of sitting by the fire reading by candle light. The candle had burned to the socket and melted wax had run through a hole made by the heat in the bottom of the candle-stick. The linoleum on the floor was set on fire, and the woodwork around the hearth was also ignited, and burned slowly. When the boy rose early m the morning he did not detect anything out of the ordinary until he noticed smoke issuing from the. room where the fire was burning. He became bewildered at the sight of the place being on fire, and there being apparently no one there but himself, and he ran out, caught his horse, and rode off to Mr J. Poynter's residence, about a mile away, and gave the alarm. Mr Poynter soon got to the house, and was surprised to find that Mrs Morris was not endeavoring to put the fire out. Rushing into the room, he found her lying, as stated, on the hearth, the room being dense with smoke and the house on fire. He pulled the burning clothes off the poor woman, who was in a frightful condition from burns, and after giving her hasty attention he set to and extinguished the fire, which was quickly increasing its hold on the building. Dr Hallom was speedily sent for, and did all that could be done for the sufferer, who was very badly burned about the body and legs. The doctor could hold out no hope of recovery, and said that Mrs Morris could not live much after 10 that night. He dressed the wounds as well as could be done, and later on attended the patient, who expired at half-past 10 last night. She was conscious after being rescued, and remained so until near the end. She stated that she felt no pain at all; her complaint in fact, was that she was cold, the burns being so severe as to have deadened the sense of pain. She was able to give her depositions to the constable. The deceased was at one time a prominent worker m the Salvation Army, and had many friends m the district. Deceased had had an adventurous career m the early days. The daughter of a business man in Napier, she had received a fine education. At the time of the massacre she was residing at Matawhero. She was captured by Te Kooti at the sarnie time as Wi Pere and others. They were taken beyond Ngatapa and Te Kooti, elated with his terrible triumph, danced about them, threatening how he was going to kill them by stabbing and otherwise. After the engagement at Makaretu or "the first Ngatapa," as it was called, they succeeded in getting over the range and escaping. Mrs Morris was a very loyal subject, and was able to supply the Government forces with reliable information concerning the movements of the rebels. She, at considerable risk to herself, conveyed to Major Biggs and others warning of Te Kooti's intended raid. On that information precautions were taken, but as the awful after events proved, the precautions were not sufficient, and the massacre was the outcome. The old settlers especially deeply regret the tragic death of one who had done so much for the residents of the district. Those who arrived in later years have perhaps little knowledge of what that meant or the risks run, but the early setters have good reason to remember Maria Morris with feelings of deep gratitude for services rendered, regardless of the dangers she herself thus incurred.

Pera Kararehe Taihuka

Morris, Maria
pages 121-3, 123 photo, 124, 129, 130-1, 134, 218, 416, 559
Source: 'Redemption Songs' - A Life of Te Kooti, Judith Binney, 1995.