HAPURONA (otherwise IWIMAIRE, or PUKERIMU, formerly known as Ngawakawawe) was a chief of Ngati-Awa and one of the most successful of the Maori generals against British troops. Not of high birth, he was the son of Pukewhao, a Taranaki chief, his mother being a Ngati-Awa woman of Pukerangiora. He escaped from that stronghold when it was captured.

Hapurona was a tall, rough, honest-looking man, with some oratorical powers, fiery and jealous. A skilful engineer with considerable military talent, he was the fighting leader of Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake (q.v.). Having appealed to the King (Tawhiao) for help, he took the field early in 1860 in defence of Waitara. He was driven out of Te Kohia on the disputed block (17 Mar 1860). Three months later, on 27 Jun, he commanded skirmishers of Ngati-Awa in their victory at Puketakauere, which raised Maori mana against both soldiers and naval forces. He had made preparations for resisting the troops at Mahoetahi, but on the arrival of Wetini Taiporutu with the Waikato contingent he took a subordinate position and was posted with 800 men to make a flank attack. Hapurona now had a contempt for the soldiers and signed a letter challenging General Pratt and threatening to occupy the Bell block. When Wetini's position was stormed Hapurona fired a volley and retired, leaving the Ngati-Haua to be destroyed. On 23 Jan 1861 he led one party in the assault at dawn on No. 3 redoubt. He commanded the long defence of Te Arei against the clever sapping operations of Pratt, but under heavy artillery fire surrendered on 19 Mar. On 8 Apr he accepted terms of peace. Wi Kingi was to retire with the King people to Waikato, and Ngawaka Patukakariki also signed the treaty providing for the investigation of Waitara block, the completion of the survey, the restoration of plunder to the settlers and the submission of the Ngati-Awa. Hapurona had kept British troops in the field for more than a year and inflicted on the province losses of over £200,000.

Hapurona received a salary of £100 a year as commandant of Matarikoriko blockhouse. In Aug 1863 the Maori King and chiefs were living with him at Te Arei and Pukerangiora and in Oct troops burned the whares at Te Arei. Later Hapurona became a Hauhau, taking the name Tuahuterangi. He continued to have a great influence over Rangitake, whom he brought into New Plymouth to meet McLean and be reconciled with the government (22 Feb 1872). He lived his later years at Te Arei blockhouse, where he died on 26 Feb 1874. He had one son named Horopapera.

Cowan (p); M. S. Grace (p); R. Carey, Narrative of the late War in N.Z., 1863.

Reference: Volume 1, page 194

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