KOHERE, MOKENA (1812-94). One of the leading chiefs of Ngati-Porou, Kohere was the son of Pakura, who fell while leading an attack on Wharekura stronghold, near Te Kaha, Bay of Plenty, a fate fully avenged by the taking of Toka-Kuku pa, not far from Wharekura. Kohere was himself a warrior and wielded wide influence over the whole of the East Coast. Always friendly to the British and to the Christians, his instant taking up of the Queen's cause and uncompromising attitude towards Hauhauism and the Maori King movement brought him to the front. When the Hauhau emissaries arrived in 1865 he refused to receive them, and by raising the British ensign divided his people. He applied for arms and took the field. Biggs reinforced him with the Napier volunteers, but Waiapu was still in a precarious position, until the colonial forces under Major Fraser garrisoned Mokena's stronghold, Te Hatepe, on the night of 5 Jul 1865. On the following day, supported by the guns of H.M.S. Eclipse, they began their advance. At the surrender of Hungahungatoroa in Oct Kohere appealed to Ropata (q.v.) to make peace with the Ngati-Porou tribesmen who had sided with the Hauhau. About 500 surrendered under this promise and afterwards took the oath. Kohere was able to exhibit three Hauhau flags at Napier. He received a sword of honour from Queen Victoria (1870), and was one of the first two members of the Maori race called to the Legislative Council (1872). He resigned in 1887, and died on 4 Mar 1894.

A grandson, Henare KOHERE (1878-1916), was educated at Rangitukia native school and Te Aute College, and became a sheep farmer at East Cape. For saving the lives of seamen in the wreck of the scow Whakapai he received the Royal Humane Society's medal and certificate. He was a member of the New Zealand contingent at the coronation of King Edward VII and served in the war of 1914-18 with the Pioneer battalion with the rank of lieutenant. He died in France on 16 Sep 1916 of wounds received in action. His father was Hone Hiki Kohere, eldest son of Te Mokena Kohere, and his mother was Henarata, of Te Araroa.

Lambert; Cowan; Studholme.

Reference: Volume 1, page 253

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