History – Four peaches for a pin

These past weeks, in preparation for hosting the NZ History Federation conference, volunteers from the Albertland Heritage Museum have been going out and about, and learning more about important local places. We were honoured to receive an invitation from Barbara Woodcock to visit Rangimarie marae, of Te Uri 0 Hau, at Ōruawharo. As a gift, we took with us a Kaipara Kreme Heritage peach tree, in acknowledgment of the crucial help local iwi gave to the Albertlanders as they faced hardship in the new settlement in the 1860s.

Peaches, or ‘Māori Peaches’, as they were known in the mid 19th century, flourished along the Kaipara waterways, much to the delight of a party sent in January 1862 by the Nonconformist Settlement Association to explore land options. As cited by James Burrows in the book Albertland, party member Jones writes home,
“We were received on the beach by the chief and the villagers. They welcomed us most heartily, feasting up on the most magnificent specimens of peaches and figs I have ever seen.”

Peaches were traded, generously gifted, came in piles in waka across rivers, in full kete at local markets, and were a great source of nourishment for early immigrants who had never seen the likes of such fruit.

An array of differing foods were gifted or sold for very reasonable prices, as noted by Borrows,
“Flax kits containing seventy to eighty large peaches – an almost unknown luxury to the newcomers – were sold for an average of one shilling.”

We can only imagine how good they must have tasted to the travel weary émigré, housed in the Government Immigration barracks at Freemans Bay. Standing on piles above the sand, Albertlanders said it felt like being back at sea when the tide came in.

The Albertlanders by Brett & Hook (1927) includes a letter dated the 17 February, 1863. Mr Cooper writes:

“A great number of canoes anchor under our window, loaded with peaches and potatoes. Will and others bargained for four peaches for a pin.”

Four peaches for a pin! It’s hard to know who got the better deal, but what we do know is that peaches formed a nexus of exchange and barter, gave hope to exhausted travellers, signified manaakitanga, neighbourliness and enriched lives. And so did many other acts of kindness. The history books and letters home talk of settlers facing diminishing supplies and starvation and of them being greatly aided by local Māori with gifts of foods – those hearty peaches by the kete-full – but also other vital foods such as kūmara, fish and watermelons, along with assistance given as guides, boatsmen and lending a hand with the gruelling labour needed in the difficult terrain.

The demise of the groves through disease in the 1890s signified the end of an era but remembering the 19th century ‘Māori Peaches’ helps us to acknowledge the manaakitanga of local iwi, and in return, the small gift of the heritage peach tree this past month to Te Uri O Hau, symbolises our gratitude and respect.

Me te aroha nui ki a koutou katoa.