1810 Tsunami: New Zealand

1810-1820s. Added to the terrible war was the great catastrophe of the great tidal wave which overwhelmed the whole tribe while they were travelling on the beach from Colac to Waiau Beach. It was at Kaitangata Point that this tragedy occurred. (Saunders, 1934); According to Maori tradition, 1820 or thereabouts, was a year of great disturbances, earthquakes in the north and tidal waves in the south "the Maories of Murihiku, both on the west and south-east coasts affirm that a great tidal wave swept over the area where Orepuki now is, and all along the western coast, and thereby many hundreds of the Ngati Mamoe tribe met their deaths by drowning. It appears that it was the usual custom for tribes to meet together at the Waiau mouth in the autumn to provide themselves with enough fish to carry them over the long winter". They were traveling along the beach track when great tidal waves rose from the ocean, and carried them out to sea, and it is believed no survivors remained to tell the story; a similar adventure is also recorded from an area beyond Fortrose. (Saunders, 1936); About 1811, a large party from Pahi's village and Colac Bay were making their way westward to gather food for the winter, when they were overwhelmed by a huge tidal wave which dashed them all against Kaitangata's cliff. Not one of them survived this disaster, and this incident took its toll on the Maori population of the area. Incidentally Kaitangata today, situated just west of Monkey island, is much diminished to what it was then, having been washed by many tides over the years since it is now hardly noticeable as a feature on the beach. (Smith, 2003); Pahia was originally a Maori pa. In the early days it was at Otatara, Colac and Pahia or the Aropaki district that the natives of the western district congregated. In and around Pahia are many evidences of the old days when a powerful Maori race lived in this district. Farmers when ploughing, found battle axes and skulls and greenstone weapons, and it must have been a period just before the landing of the whalers and sealers that the great war between the northern and southern Maories, which almost exterminated the powerful tribe, took place. Following this terrible war was the catastrophe of the great tidal wave which overwhelmed the whole tribe while they were travelling along the beach from Orepuki to the Waiau Beach. It was at Kaitangata Point that this tragedy occurred. The place is most suitably named for Kaitangata in Maori means "eat a tribe". (Reece, 1984); In "Saga of the Pioneers" a story describing Otara as "quite historical for it was on the Otara beach that there was a large Māori pa which was attacked by the northern Māoris. While they were indulging in a great cannibal feast, a huge tidal wave came up from the sea and swept everything within radius away After the great storm which plainly showed the anger of the Great Spirit, the beach lay bare and all the looted treasures of greenstone, battle axes and ornaments were covered with sand washed up by the seas. Many of the Māories were engulphed and lost their lives. It was a strange fact that at this same period at the beginning of last century (1800s) this great tidal wave also swept over the Orepuki beach and a large party of Māories who were journeying to the Waiau mouth to obtain food for the winter were exterminated." (McIntosh, 1985)