This haka was composed in 1864 as a Tūhoe response to the colonial invasion by the British Empire. Tūhoe with Ngāti Maniapoto, Raukawa, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Whare and other iwi allies confronted the colonial forces at Orākau near the present site of Kihikihi township. Here they fought a bloody battle. Tūhoe lost an overwhelming number of people including women and young children. The cause was about liberty, freedom and independence-mana motuhake. Te Pūru or literally 'the bull' was a metaphor used to describe the arrogance, greed and presumptions of the crown. The image of a bull was to belittle and capture the personality of the invaders. Below are excerpts from the haka;
Whakatangatanga ki runga, whakatangatanga ki raro...
Stretching high, stretching low. This line talks of the insatiable appetite devouring everything within its reach, leaving nothing for anyone else.
Pūkawautia ko hau...
I am homeless. As a result Maori may become like the scavenging shag homeless, graceless and impoverished.
Ngā ngirangira, ngā hotahota...
Musket firing pins and powder shots. This talks of the destructive power of the gun where by a single shot, a geneological line may come to an end. Life continuity, peace and happiness is no more.
Ka awhe awhea, ko te rua tamariki..
The young is gathered. This refers to the fact that the defenders of Maori-Tūhoe freedom and liberty were the young. While both men and women, young and old were present at most battles Orakau was notable by the presence of many young people.
The haka 'Te Pūru' is a signature for Tūhoetanga and being Tūhoe. It reminds us that the price of liberty is vigilence and that freedom will always cost no less than the lives of our young.