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Wiremu Tamihana Tarapipipi Te Waharoa

Te Waharoa, Wiremu Tamihana Tarapipipi ? - 1866
Ngati Haua leader, teacher, diplomat

Tarapipipi was the second son of Te Waharoa of Ngati Haua. His mother was Rangi Te Wiwini. He was born in the early nineteenth century, possibly about 1805, at Tamahere, on the Horotiu plains. As a young man in the 1820s he participated in several war expeditions in the Taranaki and Waikato districts. In 1825, in support of Ngati Koroki kin, he led a retaliatory attack on Ngati Hinetu, a sub-tribe of Ngati Apakura, at a pa called Kaipaka, near Te Awamutu. In the battle Rangianewa, younger sister of Te Kahurangi, grandmother of the Waikato leader Te Wherowhero, was killed. Reprisals were averted when Te Waharoa allowed Ngati Apakura to settle on lands at Rangiaowhia which had been occupied by Ngati Koroki. In the mid 1830s Tarapipipi also participated in the fighting between Ngati Haua and Te Arawa, instigated by the killing of Te Hunga, a relation of Te Waharoa, by Haerehuka of Ngati Whakaue in December 1835. In the fighting at Ohinemutu in August 1836 Tarapipipi interceded on behalf of two CMS mission workers, and led them to a place of safety when the mission premises were destroyed by Ngati Whakaue.

Te Rauparaha ? - 1849

Te Rauparaha was the son of Werawera, of Ngati Toa, and his second wife, Parekowhatu (Parekohatu), of Ngati Raukawa. He is said to have been a boy when Captain James Cook was in New Zealand. If so, it is likely that he was born in the 1760s. He was born either at Kawhia or at his mother's home, Maungatautari. He was descended from Hoturoa of the Tainui canoe; both his parents were descended from the founding ancestors of their tribes. Although not of the highest rank, he rose to the leadership of Ngati Toa because of his aggressive defence of his tribe's interests and his skill in battle. He was short in stature but of great muscular strength. In profile, he had aquiline features; when excited his eyes would gleam and his lower lip would curl downwards.
His name is derived from an edible plant called rauparaha. Soon after he was born a Waikato warrior who had killed and eaten a relation of his threatened to eat the child as well, roasted with rauparaha leaves; the child was called Te Rauparaha in defiance of this threat. The other name by which he was known during his childhood was Maui Potiki, because he, like Maui Potiki, was lively and mischievous. Much of his childhood was spent with his mother's people at Maungatautari, but he may have been instructed at the whare wananga at Kawhia.

Kaumatua Haare Puke

Haare Puke was born in July 1925 at Tauhei, Waikato, and was educated at Hamilton Technical College. He joined the Army in 1945 but did not serve overseas and during the post war years he was an outstanding rugby player who played alongside the likes of George Nepia, Monita Delamare, Ben Couch and many others. He also excelled in athletics - namely the 100 yard sprint and hop skip and jump. He attended the Mormon huitau held at Turangawaewae in 1938 & 1939 with his mother and is a strong believer and follower of the Church.

Rewi Manga Maniapoto

Manga, later called Rewi Maniapoto, was born in Waikato early in the nineteenth century. According to his memorial at Kihikihi, he was born in 1807, although at his death in 1894 he was said to be in his 70s. He was the direct descendant and namesake of his founding tribal ancestor, Maniapoto. Rewi's father was Te Ngohi, also known as Kawhia, of Ngati Maniapoto. His mother was Te Kore, of Ngati Maniapoto, who was killed by Waikato at Paterangi, near Kihikihi. Rewi belonged to Ngati Paretekawa, a hapu of Ngati Maniapoto. In 1831 Te Ngohi was a member of Potatau Te Wherowhero's war party which captured Pukerangiora in Taranaki from Te Ati Awa. Rewi accompanied his father on this expedition. The centre of Rewi's activities was to be his home district of Kihikihi and Otawhao (Te Awamutu).

Rewi was educated according to his rank and Ngati Maniapoto custom, and although little is known of his early childhood, in adulthood he exemplified all the qualities expected of one raised to lead. He became known by Maori and Pakeha for his oratory, political debate and leadership, knowledge of traditional customs and practices, and military skills. His moko was that of a rangatira.

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