NOPERA, NGAKUKU PANAKAREAO (?-1856), a chief of Te Patu hapu of Rarawa and of Aupouri, was the son of Te Kaka, a brave and influential chief who was driven from his lands at Oruru and took refuge in the Three Kings islands. His son took the name 'Pana Kareao' from an incident of the flight when Te Kaka was tangled in the vines and almost captured. With a Rarawa and Aupouri contingent, Panakareao accompanied Titore against the Thames tribes in 1831-33 and carried on a separate campaign as far as Whakatane, where he suffered a repulse at the hands of the Ngati-Awa. A mission station was established at Kaitaia in 1833, and shortly afterwards Panakareao's wife (later baptised as Eleonora) was converted. This masterful woman was one of the three women who signed the Treaty of Waitangi.

Panakareao having adopted Christianity, was a practical missionary, carrying the Bible from village to village and urging the tribes to adopt the new faith. In 1837 he complained to Busby of the conduct of the Ngapuhi fighting in Busby's presence. He asked for a resident and soldiers at Kaitaia. Hobson was much impressed by his civilised and cleanly mode of life and fine manners. His speech in favour of the Treaty carried the meeting at Kaitaia. In the earliest days of British sovereignty Panakareao reoccupied his tribal lands, and sold a large area to Hobson. This led in Apr 1843 to renewed fighting with Heke, against whom Panakareao built a pa. Eventually the missionaries settled the dispute and he withdrew and settled again at Kaitaia. Bishop Selwyn also was impressed by the Christian spirit of Nopera, the neat little church in which he regularly attended service, and by his observance of family prayers. Nevertheless Nopera did not enjoy the full confidence of the missionaries. At the time of the outbreak at Bay of Islands in 1845 his influence prevented the Whangaroa and Kaitaia chiefs from allowing their people to go to the Bay, and obviated the widening of the trouble. He himself rendered valuable service in the field. Colonel Despard found him shrewd, sensible, thoughtful and deliberate in his judgment. Nopera died on 12 Apr 1856 from cold contracted by riding twice through a swollen stream.

G.B.D.-P. 1841-44; Buller; Carleton; Buick, Waitangi; W. Williams

Reference: Volume 2, page 66

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