Huria
One spring morning in the middle of a gigantic storm at Wakapuaka, Huria and her husband were at the beach. They saw a ship bashing from side to side against the rocks.
She didn't like seeing the sailor in distress and thought to herself I MUST SAVE THEM. She threw her cloak (korowai) on the beach.
Huria could hear the sailors calling. Huria dived into the ferocious water, her family couldn't believe her bravery. She swam so hard and battled through huge waves to help get to the ship. Huria risked her life to help the pakeha.
I think Huria was a very brave woman. She was a great woman at the time of the wars between pakeha and Māori.
I think that Huria was kind because she was the type of person who liked to help other people in distress. When each pakeha sailor came to shore they were wrapped in her cloak to keep warm. When she saw Henry not make it to shore Huria was so sad even though she had saved many others.
Huria’s bond between the Māori and the pakeha wove a strong bond that day - just like the bond between the wool and the flax in her cloak.
Thank you for sharing Hurias story Billie, she was extremely brave to battle the elements at sea to rescues strangers. She showed that compassion and humanity overrides everything else. She truely was a New Zealand heroine.
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