Mahaki was an ancestor at Turanganui. Te Kooti is
comparing his shame when government agents broke his trust
in their promise of peace by attacking him, with the shame
of his ancestor who was tricked by a similar broken promise.
Te Kooti went to war to avenge his shame, just as Mahaki had
done 400 years previously.
Mahaki is remembered as the chief whose wife promised to be
faithful to him, and then started sleeping with Tupuho, a
follower of Kahungunu's grandson, Rakiapaaka. This resulted
in a war against Rakiapaaka's tribe, with many lives
lost.
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