TE RERENGA, HONE WETERE (1844-88), of Mokau, was a Ngati-Maniapoto chief of very high rank who traced his descent for 55 generations. He was noted for his ability and energy, and resentment at the erection of the blockhouse at Pukearuhe to hinder the passage of recruits from Waikato to Taranaki. On 13 Feb 1869 a taua of his people from Mokau destroyed the blockhouse and massacred neighbouring settlers and the missionary John Whiteley (q.v.). Te Rerenga denied that he had taken part in the massacre. He was, however, outlawed till 1883, when he was included in the pardon. He was consistently friendly to Europeans, and in 1878 helped Joshua Jones to open up the trade of the Mokau. In 1882 he went to Wellington to interview the Minister, and urge the opening up of native lands, but hurried away on hearing that a warrant was out for his apprehension. Long disputes ensued over the purchase of the Mokau lands.

Te Rerenga continued friendly to the pakehas and for some years enjoyed a government pension. He was the recipient of the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society for saving the life of C. W. Hursthouse and other Europeans who were capsized on the Mokau bar. He died on 9 Mar 1888.

Cowan, Wars; Wells; G. T. Wilkinson, My Rata Tree; E. S. Brookes, Frontier Life, Taranaki, 1892.

Reference: Volume 2, page 114

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