The Poor Knights History and Maori habitation
The Poor Knights are small, and the number of people it could maintain, was likewise, a small number. Yet, for many generations it sustained a population of 300-400 Maori who occupied the southern island, Aorangi. The northern island, Tawhiti Rahi, although larger, belonged to a subtribe of Ngatiwai and its chief Tuaho. It was used mainly for hunting sea birds, a few months each year.
The southern island has a fertile valley on its eastern side towards Tatua Peak, and is surrounded by three pa sites. The Maori (the NgaiToki) who lived here, belong to the Ngati Toki subtribe of Ngatiwai and their chief Tabu. Chief Tatau of Ngatiwai was ruler over both islands.
Landing on the island was not always possible but two landings were used, one near Urupa (graveyard) on the northern tip, and one in South Harbour, known as Fraser's Landing. In both places, it was possible to haul canoes out of the water. In some other places canoes could be lifted out of the water on ropes. In those days the Maori were skilled seafarers and were able to travel large distances in any one day. For instance, the northern harbour of Whangaroa was only a day's paddling away. Trade with the mainland occurred on a regular basis, because the Poor Knights could not supply enough timber (totara) for canoes, as well as other items of necessity like obsidian (volcanic glass) for cutting. Pigs were kept on the islands and bartered for goods. Also fishing was bountiful and preserved muttonbird (a shearwater) and smoked fish were also traded.
In the sheltered and fertile volcanic valley, the local inhabitants were able to grow kumara (sweet potato) and other crops.
In about 1808 an incident occurred with a party of natives from the Hikutu tribe of Hokianga Harbour (on the west coast), who were not allowed to land and who were refused pigs for food. This was not easily forgotten, and when the Ngatiwai tribe with chief Tatau and his warriors (and those from Aorangi) joined the notorious and cruel Hongi Hika on a fighting expedition to the Hauraki Gulf (150km south), the island remained poorly defended.
A slave named Paha managed to escape from the island in a canoe and several days later reached the west coast settlement of the Hikutu tribe. He informed chief Waikato that Aorangi was poorly defended and ripe for an invasion to secure pigs and slaves. Without delay, chief Waikato set out in three large canoes, rounding North Cape and then on to the Poor Knights, a distance of almost 200 nautical miles (320km). With the escaped slave as guide, they were able to spring a complete surprise at night, and slaughter the defenceless inhabitants, many of whom jumped to their deaths from the high cliffs. It took the first night and all of the next day to kill them all. Then they left with as captives, Tatau's wife Oneho and her daughter.
On their way back, in Whangaroa Harbour, they rested for a day and celebrated their success with the locals. But a local elder (rangatira) Tango recognised Oneho as a distant relative and helped her escape to Kerikeri where they were taken by canoe to Rawhiti in the bay of Islands.
When Tatau returned from his Hauraki expedition, he was met with about ten survivors, including his five year old son Wehiwehi, who related the horrid massacre to him. Wehiwehi was saved by old man Omanoa who hid him in a small cave. Utterly demoralised, the men performed last rites over the slain and then declared the islands to be strictly tapu, never to be visited again. They all left for Rawhiti in the Bay of Islands where chief Tatau was reunited with his wife and daughter.
The Poor Knights have remained uninhabited since that time.