RIPAHAU, or MATAHAU, was a southern native who was taken as a slave to Bay of Islands. His master having been killed, he lived for some years at the mission stations, where he received regular instruction. When the Ngapuhi were fighting with the Arawa against the Thames tribes he started overland for the south, visiting relatives at Taupo and Rotorua. At Otaki his knowledge of the Scriptures evoked the interest of Tamihana te Rauparaha and Matene te Whiwhi, and for some months they studied together, reading from a single copy of the Prayer Book and writing on scraps of paper obtained from the whalers. They gathered a few other students about them and retired for security to Kapiti. Ripahau later went to Waikanae, where he was well received by Te Rangitake and married his daughter. On 30 Nov 1839, after the battle of Kuititanga, he was selected to ratify the peace between Ngati Raukawa and Ngati-Awa. On 4 Dec he was baptised by the Rev Henry Williams with the Christian name 'Hohepa.' Wi Kingi himself was soon afterwards baptised. Tamihana te Rauparaha and Matene te Whiwhi earnestly demanded a missionary for their people, and Williams had almost decided to go himself. Octavius Hadfield, who was in ill-health, had just arrived from England with Bishop Broughton. He volunteered for the post, and was ordained and appointed.

Jacobs; Carleton; W. Williams; Ward; E. J. Wakefield; Selwyn, Annals.

Reference: Volume 2, page 125

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