POKAIA (?-1807), a chief of Ngapuhi, was the uncle of Hone Heke and lived at Kirioke, near Kaikohe. In 1805 he joined a taua of Te Roroa to avenge the seduction of the wife of Pinaki by a Ngati-Whatua. In the fight Pokaia's son Te Tao was killed by Te Hekeua, thus giving him a casus belli against both Te Uri-o-Hau tribe and Te Roroa. Pokaia, moreover, was in love with Kararu, the sister of Hongi Hika. Being rejected, he fell upon a pa of Taoho's called Whakatau, in the Kaihu valley, killing and eating all the occupants. As the operations against Taoho continued long after utu was satisfied, Taoho retired to Te Puka on the Wairoa river, where Pokaia again attacked him and was repulsed. In this fighting Hongi Hika took part. Pokaia was killed at Moremonui in 1807 in a great ambush by the Ngati-Whatua under Murupaenga and Taoho.

S. P. Smith, Wars.

Reference: Volume 2, page 88

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