Dictionary of NZ Biography — Hori Ngakapa Te Whanaunga

NameBiographyReference

Hori Ngakapa Te Whanaunga

Hori Ngakapa Te Whanaunga

TE WHANAUNGA, HORI NGAKAPA, a distinguished chief of Ngati-Whanaunga and Ngati-Paoa, lived as a boy at Waiau and Tiki (Coromandel district). When he was 25 years of age he led his tribes in the demonstration in war canoes to Auckland to seek redress for an insult to a chief at the hands of a native policeman. After dancing hakas on the beach at Mechanics Bay a deputation waited on the Governor to demand the native policeman. Grey ordered them to retire on a threat of using force, and they did so, leaving a mere in token of submission. Ngakapa in 1863 led a small party of his tribe in the Kingite cause. They laid an ambush for an escort of the 18th Regiment at Bombay Hill. Hori had a narrow escape in the fighting, his life being saved by the interposition of his wife. He was present at the defence of Rangiriri, but escaped with 400 of his people by swimming across the lake. He joined the garrison at Paterangi, but withdrew after the fight at Rangiaowhia and when the war ended he retired to his home on the Hauraki gulf. Thereafter he was loyal to the Government and assisted in opening up the goldfields to prospectors.

Cowan, Wars and Sketches (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 245

🌳 Further sources


Volume 2, page 245

🌳 Further sources