He kōrero kēhua
Nā Alamein Wānoa o Ngāti Porou
He maha ngā kōrero kēhua o taku kāinga nō te mea he maha ngā kaumātua o tērā wāhi, tino nui te whakapono ki ēnei momo kōrero. He kōrero kēhua tēnei mō tētahi kaumātua o te Tairāwhiti, ko Pare Tāmati te ingoa. E kīa ana e ngā tāngata o Te Araroa, he tino kaha ia mō te kite kēhua ia pō ia pō. Ko ngā kēhua katoa i kitea e ia, he kehua mau mai i ngā tohu kino, i ngā tohu mate.
Ko tēnei tētahi o ana kōrero kēhua. I tētahi pō, i a ia e moe ana i tōna kāinga ko ia anake, ka oho ia, ka rongo i tētahi tangata e pātōtō ana i runga i te tatau. I tana tino mate moe, ka karanga atu ia, "E hika, tomo mai! Kei rō moenga kē ahau." Engari kāre he whakahoki mai. Ka pātōtō anō, kātahi a Pare ka matike ki te huaki i te tatau. Ehara! Kāore he tangata i reira. Ka pōhēhē ia he kurī pea e piupiu ana i tana waero. Ka hoki ia ki tana moenga.
Kātahi anō ia ka uru ki roto i ngā paraikete, ka rongo anō ia i tētahi tangata e pātōtō ana i runga i te tatau. Ka pukukino ia. Ka kī i roto i a ia, "Ko wai rā tēnei e whakaoho nei i ahau i tēnei wā o te pō?" Kātahi ia ka haere anō ki te tatau. Kāhore ana manuhiri. Ka tīmata ia ki te māharahara, ka mataku ia, purei ana ia ki tōna moenga, ki waenganui i ōna paraikete takoto ai.
Ā, ka pāhi te tāima, ka rongo ia kua rerekē tōna whira me te mea nei kei roto tētahi tangata i tōna rūma e tiro kau ana ki a ia. Ka huri ia ki te titiro ko wai rā kei reira. Heoi anō, te taumaha hoki o te mea e pēhi iho ana i runga i tōna tinana.
Kore rawa ia e kaha ki te ngāngā. Rite tonu te taumaha ki te taumaha o te hōiho i runga i a ia. Ka mōhio ia he kēhua te mea e pēhi iho nei i runga i a ia. I tōna tino mataku, kāhore ia i kaha ki te hāmama i tōna waha, ki te oreore hoki. Ko tana mahi he īnoi, he whawhai, kia haere atu te mea nei. Ka pēhi tonu iho te mea nei. Kāre e taea e ia te pēhea. Ahakoa whakakaha ia kia makere atu te mea nei, kore rawa e taea. Kua ngoikore katoa tana tinana. Kua rangirua katoa ōna whakaaro. Me pēhea rā?
Ka mea ake hoki ia me kore noa e kite i te kēhua nei, kore rawa ia e kite. Kei te rongo tonu ake ia e taumaha haere ana. Ka mea ia ki te hāparangi, kore rawa e puta te tangi. Kua heke te werawera i a ia. Roa rawa, kātahi anō ia ka rongo e māmā haere ana tana whīra. Kātahi ia ka titiro anō. Ka kite atu ia i te kēhua nei e ngaro haere atu ana ki te pō. Ēngari, kāre i tino mārama tana kite atu. Ngaro katoa tana kanohi i te roroa o ana makawe, e tautau ana i mua i a ia. Ko te mea anake i mōhio atu ia, he koroua taua kēhua. I te ata ka kōrero ia mō tana māuiuitanga i taua pō. Ka kōrerotia mai ki a ia, "Ē, he tika tonu! Kua mate tō tipuna! Nō te pō tonu nei i mate ai." Mōhio tonu ia nā reira te kēhua nei i haere mai ai ki te kuku i a ia. Ko tana tipuna tonu ia.