Nunuku's Law

Nunuku’s Law

Long ago, there was heaps of fighting among the tribes of Rekohu. The leader called Nunuku made a law to finish the war and killing. All the other high authorities of Rekohu agreed to this.So if two people started to fight, they were permitted to hit each other, but if either one of them drew each other’s blood, their argument had to stop immediately.

In 1835, Rekohu was invaded by the two tribes of New Zealand, the high authorities of Rekohu gathered together to make a decision on what they should do (about the invasion. After a long talk, the high authorities decided that they could not disobey Nunuku’s sacred and ancient law of peace. They made a decision to not fight against the invaders but to divide their land with the intruders. Over 200 Moriori men, women and children were killed. Many others became slaves or died in captivity.

All the people who died, their names are carved on the pou at Kopinga Marae to honor their memory and their legacy of peace.