PAIPAI, KAWANA, or TAWHITORANGI (?-1884) was a loyal Whanganui chief in the early pakeha days. He lost his father, Tawhito, at Whanganui on 31 May 1847. Kawana Paipai had influential connections, such as Hori Kingi te Anaua, Wiremu Hukanui and Mete Kingi Paetahi, and with them he attended the Kohimarama conference in 1860 and many other meetings. He had a fine war record in command of kupapa during the disturbances of the sixties. At the battle of Ohoutahi (May 1865) he assisted in bringing in Te Peehi Turoa, Topia and Tahana. He also served on the East Coast against Te Kooti. Paipai was closely associated with Governor Grey, and made many journeys with him. In 1866, with Grey and McDonnell, he visited the mouth of the Waingongoro river, where he claimed to have hunted the moa in his youth. In 1869 Kawana Paipai was chosen to accompany Kemp to Auckland to be presented to the Duke of Edinburgh. In Feb 1870 he insisted on the Whanganui contingent maintaining the pursuit of Te Kooti in Bay of Plenty. One of his last meetings was at Bay of Islands in 1882, when with Mete Kingi he met all the northern tribes. Paipai was almost the last survivor of the tattooed warriors, except Mamaku. He was greatly learned in Maori lore, and traced his ancestry far back into the Polynesian period. He died on 11 Jun 1884.

Sherrin and Wallace (p); Cowan, Wars; Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxi, p. 438; Wanganui Yeoman, 13 Jun 1884.

Reference: Volume 2, page 76

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