POMARE (?-1826). This powerful Ngapuhi chief, whose original name was Whetoi, was a son of Tu Whanga and Puhi. His hapu was Uri Karaka and his pa was Otuihu, at the junction of the Waikare and Kawakawa rivers (just opposite the present wharf at Opua). Pomare was a contemporary of Hongi Hika and took part in many of his campaigns. He was in the heyday of his fame when Kendall arrived in Bay of Islands in 1814. At the end of that year Marsden stayed a night in his pa, and a few months later Pomare went as a passenger in the Active to Port Jackson. He made less use of his opportunities than Hongi (q.v.), and when next Marsden visited him at Waikare (1819) he complained bitterly that he had no blacksmith living with him. Impressed with the success of the ruling dynasty of Tahiti in the civilisation of their kingdom, Whetoi assumed their name in place of his own. In 1820-21 he accompanied Te Wera on an expedition against the people at East Cape. Finding the pa Te Whetu Matarau impregnable, they attacked first Okau-whare-toa, which they captured with much slaughter. Amongst their prisoners was a woman of very high rank, Te Rangi-i-Paia, the wife of Tokomauri and ancestor of Henare Potae (q.v.). Pomare afterwards took her to Bay of Islands as his wife. Finding the attack on Te Whetu unavailing, he sat down on the flats to besiege it and for months subsisted on the cultivations of the defenders. Then he ostentatiously withdrew to his canoes and retired with his whole force round Matakaoa cape. When the unsuspecting defenders emerged from their pa and fell upon the remnants of their food supplies Pomare, doubling back quickly in the darkness, easily captured the stronghold and many prisoners. The remainder of the local people then retreated into the forest.

Pomare returned to his home (Apr 1821) genuinely anxious to make peace with Ngati Porou and bring to them the blessings of the Gospel. Late that year he accompanied Hongi against the Ngati-Maru, but withdrew rather than be a party to the treachery at Te Totara. He went instead to attack Tuhua island, in Bay of Plenty. In 1822, with a powerful force, he sought vengeance against Ngati-Pukeko and Ngati-Awa for losses sustained by his people in the expedition of Te Morenga in 1818. Ngati-Awa fled from Whakatane on the first alarm, and Pomare, laden with spoils, including many preserved heads for the European trade, returned to his home, where Kendall was living under his protection. In the early months of 1823 he took part in Hongi's expedition against the Arawa at Rotorua. After the defeat of the Arawa Pomare and Hongi had some disagreement on the plan of campaign, and Pomare withdrew his people to the sea coast at Waihi and effected a junction with Te Wera, who was on a new expedition to East Cape (Aug 1823). After capturing the Ngati-Awa pa of Puketapu they advanced up the valley by Ruatoki as far as Te Hua and Tunanui, killing many of the fleeing Ngati-Awa and Urewera. Scouts of Urewera got into touch with Pomare and a party of chiefs opened negotiations for Te Mautaranui, with whom Ngapuhi made a satisfactory peace. Pomare then embarked his taua and proceeded eastward, harrying the Whakatohea and the Whanau-a-Apanui, but suffering a reverse at the hands of the latter at Te Kaha. Turning the tables at Whangaparaoa, Pomare went on to Te Kawakawa and sought there, through the mediation of Rangi-i-Paia, to make peace with Ngati-Porou. Distrusting these overtures, and encouraged by the weakness of the embassy, Ngati-Porou attacked them, but were severely repulsed by the Ngapuhi guns. Pomare co-operated for a while with Te Wera in his operations at Waiapu and Wairoa, and then returned to Te Kawakawa, where finally peace was made, thus ending hostilities with Ngati-Porou which had lasted since the killing of the Ngapuhi girl in 1806. Ngapuhi then returned to their homes, taking with them some Ngati-Porou who were anxious to hear the Gospel (1824).

Later in that year Te Mautaranui appeared at Bay of Islands to seek help against his old enemies of Ngati-Kahungunu. Pomare consented, and in May left the Bay to join forces with Te Wera at Mahia and co-operate from Wairoa with a strong taua of inland tribes. The Ngapuhi took part in the attack on Titirangi and Pomare is said at this or some other time to have traversed the plains of Ahuriri. This was almost the last of his successful wars. Harbouring the hope of revenge against Waikato, he refused to listen to the warnings of Hongi against breaking the peace that had been made through a woman after Matakitaki. After a visit to Thames to cut spars for Dillon he tried to get his hosts to join him against Waikato. Dejected by their refusal, he returned to Barrier island. There Te Rauroha tried to dissuade him and Te Wherowhero was also disposed to remonstrate. Deaf to all warnings, Pomare persisted. He had reached the neighbourhood of Te Rore, on the Waipa (May 1826) when he was suddenly attacked by Ngati Tamaoho, Ngati-Paoa (under Taraia Ngakuti) and Ngati-Tipa (under Nini). He was mortally wounded by a son of Kukutai and by Taraia, and a mere remnant of his people regained their homes, with only the chiefs Moetara and Te Mau-paraoa and none of their canoes.

On Pomare's death the direct line failed, his only son having been killed a year earlier. He was succeeded in the leadership by Te Mauparaoa (q.v.), a Ngati-Kahungunu who had been captured on one of the Ngapuhi raids and brought back to the Bay. In subsequent campaigns he showed great bravery and force of character and he was accepted by the tribe as the war leader.

S. P. Smith, Wars; Buick, First War; Cowan; Carleton.

Reference: Volume 2, page 90

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