TE PUNI, HONIANA (? - 1870), a Ngati-Awa chief of high lineage, was descended from Takarangi and Rau-mahora. His own father was Rerewha-i-te-Rangi, son of Aniwaniwa and Tawhirikura, the originators of the Tawhirikura sub-tribe of Ngati-Awa. He was one of the principal chiefs at the defence of Rewarewa by Taranaki (1805-10), where his father was killed and he escaped by jumping over a cliff into the river. Te Puni lived at Pukeariki and took part in the successful defence of Otaka against the Waikato. The three guns of John Love (Hakirau) were a deciding factor. Afterwards he accompanied the followers of Wharepouri, Rawa-Kitua and Ngatata southward in the heke Tama te Uaua. Te Puni and his people settled in the neighbourhood of Cook Strait (1832), his pa being on the beach at Pito-one. A few years later he was with Te Wharepouri when he welcomed the arrival of the pakeha, and he was one of the first to greet Wakefield and his pioneers at Port Nicholson. 'One of mature years, named Epuni, or Greedy, advanced with much dignity of manner to meet Barrett as an old and respected friend. The old man, Barrett told us, was as famous for his wisdom in council as for his former deeds of war. He eagerly inquired the motive of our visit and expressed the most marked satisfaction on hearing that we wished to buy the place.' Te Puni was one of the signatories of the treaty of Waitangi and the deed of purchase of the land about Wellington. He accepted the portion of the payment due to the natives of Pito-one; had a store built for Colonel Wakefield in his pa, and was proud of the trust reposed in him as custodian of the Company's stores. His own canoe he placed at the disposal of the principal agent to meet incoming ships, and his youngest son Henare accompanied Chaffers in his survey of Wellington harbour. Wallace describes Te Puni as 'a venerable old chief.' The leading position he held is evident from the fact that the toast at the opening of Barrett's hotel in 1840 was 'Te Puni and the Chiefs.' Along with Wi Tako, Te Puni took strong measures to defend the pakeha when Boulcott's farm was attacked (16 May 1846). Major M. Richmond, reporting to Grey on the operations, wrote: 'I was much gratified by the chief Epuni coming forward and offering his assistance with 100 followers. By this determination of Epuni to unite with us in repressing the rebellious natives we secured the alliance of the whole of the Atiawa tribe, which being the most powerful in this part of the country, will prove of the greatest service to the government.' Te Puni at first proposed to pursue the hostile natives to their stronghold at Pahautanui, but later realised that his force was not strong enough to achieve its object. This opinion was corroborated by Grey, who wrote gravely doubting the wisdom of the pursuit. In recognition of his friendly services, Te Puni was presented with a silver cup in 1848 by Alexander Currie (chairman of directors of the New Zealand Company). Mrs Petre handed the cup to the old chief 'as a mark of approbation of his uniform and upright conduct towards the colonials since the establishment of the settlement.' In 1848 Te Puni was appointed an official visitor at Wellington hospital. Grey chose him as one of his esquires on being knighted. Later in that year he witnessed the death of his friend Colonel Wakefield, and acted as a pallbearer at the funeral. In 1850 he went with Rawa-Kitua back to his Taranaki lands. During the Taranaki troubles of 1854 his son Henare was at Rewarewa and assisted to erect a strong pa at Mangaone hill. Te Puni died on 5 Dec 1870. He was buried at Pito-one with every show of respect from the two races. The pallbearers were Sir Donald McLean, Fitzherbert, Ludlam, Hunter, Lyon, J. C. Crawford and George Crawford. Hadfield remarked that the dead chief had been the very first to welcome the pakeha to the shores of Port Nicholson, and had since been their steadfast friend. Fitzherbert, in a panegyric worthy of the occasion, described Te Puni as a born gentleman, one of nature's noblemen. 'Had he ever listened to suggestions less than those of gentleness and nobleness, or to men of lower minds than his own, how different might have been the early history of Wellington. The colonisation of New Zealand might have been indefinitely postponed, if not abandoned for years.' From 1853 Te Puni enjoyed a small annual pension.

The descendants of Honiana te Puni have no knowledge of how he received the name of 'Greedy.' Prior to the battle at Rewarewa he was simply Honiana. After he escaped he was given the name 'Te Puni Kokopu' from having made his escape by jumping into a deep dark hole where mountain trout were to be found (te puni, or te pa puni, a deep hole in a river; kokopu, a mountain trout). A grandson of Honiana te Puni and Nokuru Wi Tako Love (a grandson of Wi Tako Ngatata) attended Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee. Honiana was presented to the Queen and both received the jubilee medal. Mrs Ripeka Love (née Matene), a descendant on her paternal side of Honiana te Puni, was awarded the OBE. (1918)

Family information from W. H. Love; New Munster Gaz., 21 Aug 1850; S. P. Smith, Taranaki; Cowan; Wakefield; Ward (p); Bowen; Wellington Independent, 25 Sep 1858; The Dominion, 10 Aug 1927; Evening Post, 26 Oct 1929 (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 96

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