Unveiling the Past: Executed Documents in the Heart of Waitaha Heritage

The Waitaha people were always adamant to never, ever allow any of their oral history to be written down. Their reasoning was always along the lines that it would become static if it were written down and not be able to be added to as time went on, and their oral history did change and adapt in a living way as they evolved through their time line. So their oral histories were revered and passed on from generation to generation in pristine form. This was not unique to the Waitaha people, many cultures around the world have similar values and they are still here today.

The Waitaha people were also adamant that any of their people who were executed were to be treated with dignity and respect at all times. There are many references to wh?nau in the history of the Waitaha people, which was both a positive and an olive branch to those who had no real place in their society, in that the hands of the wh?nau were always outstretched to welcome back home those who had been expelled.

It is totally fitting within the history of their culture that documents that were executed were used to pass down as much information as could be documented from the past. The Waitaha people have always been committed from the outset to ensuring that their heritage is preserved as accurately as possible. My great great great great grandmother conducted business as a successful land matriarch, thus it was a given that her executions of the deeds to her land would be an example of accurate and full detail.

The Waitaha peoples history is associated with an era when they were known for being successful warriors and hunters, but that is their past and they spent a lot of time trying to ensure that they never had to hark back to that time of their past once they discovered peace and prosperity. They were regarded as highly educated within the context of carving, weaving and other fields of artistic expertise. They were also regarded as highly educated within the context of documentation and the safeguarding of wisdom throughout the generations.

It was said though that “the property of any person was not valid unless it was recorded on a piece of paper in front of the fire with the owner in attendance”. This was documented in the 1850s by non-M?oris who knew nothing of the oral history of the Waitaha people, but the Waitaha people respected this as an accurate reflection of their focus and that they remained a matriarchal based Society in the midst of a modernised economic environment.

Thus the Waitaha people engaged in the custom of “executed documents” which entitled them to the item exchanged for the execution of the written form documenting the details of the transaction. This enabled them to document 100% of the information to do with their exchanges and agreements. They also took into consideration that as oral histories always had a way of developing differences of perspectives the more people who were involved in the process, thus the process included all of their family members and thus the aspect of “wh?nau”. It also included their tribal members and relatives who resided outside of the immediate family structure, thus everyone was included.

This process ensured that the matriarchal foundation of their Society was safeguarded and maintained. What this meant was that every generation would pass the information down as accurately as possible, plus information was recorded as accurately as possible and kept for future reference.

To the Waitaha people, an executed document was empowered in every way possible, rather than the stereotypical norm of associating it with a negative connotation. An executed document to them was seen as a positive enhancement, a powerful gift to future generations and a way to constantly secure peace and no violence between their generations.

As has already been stated, these executed documents were never written or made available to those outside of the Waitaha people and thus their history has largely remained oral, however, this is not unusual across the world.

The Waitaha people always ensured that their oral histories were always witnessed by as many people as possible, so that it became a resounding consensus agreement and thus the accuracy was guaranteed through the authentic consent of many people, who had witnessed it together within the parameters set down by their Queen Mother. Thus the information was safeguarded and if it contained special events, such as births, deaths, marriages, or significant events it was even more safeguarded.

Now the meanings and purpose around executed documents has been given a huge modern facelift thanks to the modernisation of technology which offline affects the way we document aspects of our lives, via Zoom meetings with us being able to see the person(s) we are transacting with face to face regardless of the distance between us.

This affects the way we document and can ensure our perspectives and agreements do not become static, as we can easily go back over the documentation and keep adding to it and keep it fresh, rather than static.

It is time for the Waitaha people to acknowledge and embrace this modernisation and induct it into the way of life for Waitaha Book suppliers who have a strong desire to provide neighbouring M?ori people with the opportunity to discover the history and wisdom of their predecessors alongside their obligations and responsibilities to their culture. But more importantly to be able to safeguard the stories of their dead ancestors so that they remain just as proud of being Waitaha in the years to come, as they are today. Because you see the Waitaha people need to ensure that their children and grandchildren are able to simply look back at their social history and their ancestors and say “I want to live like that – I want to be like that – my ancestors did well by me and my past and a legacy is with me”.

Centuries are passing while the Waitaha people are busy giving the rest of the world an authentic insight into their culture and heritage.