Guardian 30,070: Pangakupu

Thanks to Pangakupu for another expertly-crafted puzzle.

The traditional Māori Nina is the word HAURUA, which appears horizontally and vertically in the middle row and column. The first reference I found was to “The location of a large hui [conference] in 1857 in the Ngāti Maniapoto territory where confirmation of the selection of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero as the first Māori King. It was also affirmed that the Kingship was to be hereditary in his family. Pōtatau had been selected as King at Pūkawa on the western shore of Lake Taupō in November 1856,” but according to this, it can also mean “halfway”. I believe this is Pangakupu’s 50th Cryptic: usually there is some reference (often rather obscure) to the sequence number in the puzzles, and 50 is HALF WAY to 100 (and the Ninas are half way across and down the puzzle).

Across
1	BACKLIGHT	Rugby player lacking weight put in the shade? (9) BACK (Rugby player) + LIGHT (lacking weight); backlighting isn’t exactly putting something in the shade, but I get the idea
6	MOTTO	Words to live by, not initially arse-backwards (5) Reverse of BOTTOM (arse) less its first letter
9	GILET	Joe, for one, allowed a padded jacket (5) GI (GI Joe, nickname of a US soldier) + LET
10	RAIN DANCE	Call for monsoon? Mumbai resident dropping one in a hurry (4,5) INDIAN less the second I in RACE
11	MISERY GUTS	Tigress, with ‘Yum!’, mauled grumbler (6,4) (TIGRESS YUM)*
12	TYPE	Some charity, perhaps, would be kind (4) Hidden in chariTY PErhaps
14	PAINTED	Showed desire to embrace one in make-up? (7) I (one) in PANTED
15	DATASET	US lawyer ready to accept thanks for information (7) TA (thanks) in DA (District Attorney) + SET (ready)
17	AT LARGE	A goal almost entirely securing first place in league, in general (2,5) L[eague] in A TARGE[t]
19	DREYFUS	Duke’s decline largely involving unknown figure in French scandal (7) D + Y (unknown) in REFUS[e] (to decline an offer)
20	ITCH	Desire to lose, discarding diamonds (4) DITCH (lose) less D
22	PERMITTING	Allowing style’s suitable, but not fine (10) PERM (hairtstyle) + FITTING less F
25	AMBIGUOUS	Pompous Unionist blocking a timid one, mostly? That’s of doubtful value (9) BIG (pompous) U[nionist] in A MOUS[e]
26	AMIGO	Friend I’m backing to invest in a success (5) Reverse of I’M in A GO (as in making a go of something)
27	CLANG	Big noise in family group estranging nearly all? (5) CLAN (family group) + GROUP less almost all its letters
28	GALAPAGOS	Drink in the past contributing to atmosphere in islands (9) LAP (drink) AGO (in the past) in GAS (atmosphere)
Down
1	BY GUM	How stamps are affixed? Crikey! (2,3) Double definition
2	CELESTIAL	Starry Parisian is one active in political group (9) EST (French “is”) + I (one) + A[ctive] in CELL
3	LITERATURE	University brought in rare title, fantastic writing (10) UN in (RARE TITLE)*
4	GARAGED	Book salvaged from rubbish daughter stored (7) GARBAGE less B + D
5	TWISTED	Peculiar warped wits hosted by talks provider? (7) WITS* + TED
6	MODE	A way with meter and rhyme? (4) M (meter – US spelling of the unit of length) + ODE (a rhyme)
7	TUNNY	Fish like the location where fish are readily shot? (5) Referring to the expression “shooting fish in a barrel”, meaning something easy; a TUN is a beer barrel, and something like it is TUN-NY
8	OPERETTAS	Stereo apt to distort musical works (9) (STEREO APT)*
13	STREET LAMP	US actress swallowing whisky up – by the way, it’s illuminating (6,4) Reverse of MALT (whisky) in (Meryl) STREEP
14	PHARISAIC	A chap is upset about scripture lessons being hypocritical (9) RI (Religious Instruction) in (A CHAP IS)*
16	SUFFICING	Promoting us following cake decoration appearing to be enough (9) Reverse of US + FF (following, in references to writing) + ICING
18	ERELONG	Billionaire probing work unit soon (7) ELON (Musk – now a trillionaire, at least on paper) in ERG (unit of work)
19	DAMOSEL	Starring role involving some cut upset the old girl (7) SOM[e] in LEAD (starring role), reversed
21	COBRA	Government committee’s firm support (5) CO (company, firm) + BRA (supporter) – this committee
23	GROSS	Unrefined Imperial measure? (5) Double definition
24	AGOG	Eager to see name removed from a medal (4) A GONG less N[ame]

9 comments on “Guardian 30,070: Pangakupu”

muffin

#1 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 07:47

Thanks Pangakupu and Andrew
I found this straightforward, though I didn’t understand the definition for BACKLIGHT (and it seems you have some doubts too), or see why “pompous” equates to BIG. Lots to like, though; I was pleased to remember DREYFUS, and like the construction of GALAPAGOS (when I just had the P and G I tried to justify CHAMPAGNE!)

MikeB

#2 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 07:54

I think it may be WITS* within TED to justify the ‘hosted’ but nho TED either way.
Thanks both.

Tomsdad

#3 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 07:56

Thanks to Andrew for explaining TUNNY. I didn’t understand the shooting reference, though the answer was obvious once the crosses were in place. However, I found this more straightforward than the usual puzzles from this setter. I recognised the reference, but it took me a while to remember DREYFUS. Liked PHARISAIC, STREET LAMP and DAMOSEL. I await the usual objection to erg as a unit of work in ERELONG, but I think it’s a word that’s too useful to setters to forego. Thanks to Andrew (not least for explaining the nina and relevance thereof) and Pangakupu

Fuddleduddy

#4 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 08:03

Yes great stuff on the Maori word Andrew. I raced through this (by my standards at least) but failed in fact on TUNNY where I had chucked in a hopeful ‘tanky’.

bodycheetah

#5 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 08:14

I enjoyed this but felt the subtraction technique was a little over-used? I counted 11 including five in a row from 17a onwards

ERELONG was one of my faves regardless of what the quibblers may say

Never seen that spelling of DAMOSEL but what else could it be? “Damsel in distress” feels like it was born to be in a crossword clue for gongs/awards etc

Cheers P&A

Matthew Newell

#6 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 08:17

Phi/Pangakupu are always a delight.

Thanks Setter and Blogger

By the way – and I prefer your explanation of the Nina – Hau Rua as two words can mean Double Hit; which, as we see it twice, is also quite satisfying

Drofle

#7 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 08:26

Nice puzzle, but I found it surprisingly quick for a Pangakupu – not much struggle required. Liked PHARISAIC and RAIN DANCE in particular. Thanks to P & A.

Martin

#8 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 08:31

I enjoyed this from a setter who I never find easy, and didn’t today. Solving and parsing everything was satisfying. MISERY GUTS and STREET LAMP stood out.

Thanks Pangakupu and Andrew.

khayyam

#9 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 08:40

Nice puzzle. Still a bit unclear on the nina though. Found much the same as you Andrew but why are we halfway to 100, and why are there two of them? I feel there must be more to it…

muffin

#1 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 07:47

Thanks Pangakupu and Andrew
I found this straightforward, though I didn’t understand the definition for BACKLIGHT (and it seems you have some doubts too), or see why “pompous” equates to BIG. Lots to like, though; I was pleased to remember DREYFUS, and like the construction of GALAPAGOS (when I just had the P and G I tried to justify CHAMPAGNE!)
MikeB

#2 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 07:54

I think it may be WITS* within TED to justify the ‘hosted’ but nho TED either way.
Thanks both.
Tomsdad

#3 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 07:56

Thanks to Andrew for explaining TUNNY. I didn’t understand the shooting reference, though the answer was obvious once the crosses were in place. However, I found this more straightforward than the usual puzzles from this setter. I recognised the reference, but it took me a while to remember DREYFUS. Liked PHARISAIC, STREET LAMP and DAMOSEL. I await the usual objection to erg as a unit of work in ERELONG, but I think it’s a word that’s too useful to setters to forego. Thanks to Andrew (not least for explaining the nina and relevance thereof) and Pangakupu
Fuddleduddy

#4 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 08:03

Yes great stuff on the Maori word Andrew. I raced through this (by my standards at least) but failed in fact on TUNNY where I had chucked in a hopeful ‘tanky’.
bodycheetah

#5 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 08:14

I enjoyed this but felt the subtraction technique was a little over-used? I counted 11 including five in a row from 17a onwards

ERELONG was one of my faves regardless of what the quibblers may say

Never seen that spelling of DAMOSEL but what else could it be? “Damsel in distress” feels like it was born to be in a crossword clue for gongs/awards etc

Cheers P&A
Matthew Newell

#6 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 08:17

Phi/Pangakupu are always a delight.

Thanks Setter and Blogger

By the way – and I prefer your explanation of the Nina – Hau Rua as two words can mean Double Hit; which, as we see it twice, is also quite satisfying
Drofle

#7 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 08:26

Nice puzzle, but I found it surprisingly quick for a Pangakupu – not much struggle required. Liked PHARISAIC and RAIN DANCE in particular. Thanks to P & A.
Martin

#8 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 08:31

I enjoyed this from a setter who I never find easy, and didn’t today. Solving and parsing everything was satisfying. MISERY GUTS and STREET LAMP stood out.

Thanks Pangakupu and Andrew.
khayyam

#9 - Tue 28th Jul 26, 08:40

Nice puzzle. Still a bit unclear on the nina though. Found much the same as you Andrew but why are we halfway to 100, and why are there two of them? I feel there must be more to it…

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9 comments on “Guardian 30,070: Pangakupu”

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