ROPATA WAHAWAHA (1807-97) was a chief of the sub-tribe Te Aowera of Ngati-Porou. In a land dispute between the Ngati-Porou and Rongowhakaata, the Ngati-Porou were defeated, and Wahawaha became the slave of Rapata Whakapuhia. Hence his first name. It was always distasteful, and he afterwards took D. McLean's pronunciation, 'Ropata'. He was ransomed some years later by Tama-i-Whakanehuai-te-Rangi (of Whanau-a-Rua and Aowera, who signed the Treaty of Waitangi on behalf of the East Coast tribes). On his journey home Ropata saw at Whangara the preserved hands of a relative who had been killed and eaten. Arriving at Tokomaru, he reported the matter to his patron, and a taua proceeded to take vengeance. The offending chief was captured and killed, Ropata taking part in this expedition. His patron died in 1850.

Ropata was a native member of the first Waiapu diocesan synod (1861). He was already in middle age when he first distinguished himself in the field on the Queen's side against the Hauhau. While attending the opening of a church at Popoti, early in Jun 1865, the Ngati-Porou heard of the arrival of a body of Hauhau at Pukemaire. At once an armed party of 40, principally of Ropata's hapu, took the field under their chiefs. Ropata immediately made a name for himself as a resolute, skilful and ruthless leader. He distinguished himself in his first skirmish at Mangaone (10 Jun). In the fight at Tikitiki he killed a Hauhau chief in single combat with his stone mere. Early in Aug he was summoned to relieve the garrison at Tautini, and after the fall of Pukepapa pa he shot with his own revolver several of his people of Aowera who had joined the Hauhau. At the Pukemaire pa on 3 Oct he personally directed the pulling down of a section of the stockade, and in pouring rain secured the body of a dead Hauhau out of the pa. Proceeding against the forest pa of Hungahungatoroa, he scaled the precipice under heavy fire and engaged the enemy. Later he outflanked a body of Hauhau between Anaura and Tolaga Bay and defeated them after a stubborn fight, in which he killed two men (one with the tomahawk and the other with the rifle). In Nov 1865 he did good service at the siege of Waerenga-a-Hika, which resulted in the capture of 800 Hauhau prisoners. The campaign now developed an intense character. Ropata was co-operating with Major Fraser in the northern Hawkes Bay and Waikaremoana districts. On 13 Jan 1866 friendly troops fell into a trap in approaching the strongly fortified position at Te Kopane, near the lake. The Ngati-Porou numbered 150 and the Ngati-Kahungunu 200. Ropata, leading the advance guard, was caught by the Hauhau fire on both flanks. The Ngati-Kahungunu had many casualties, and a retreat seemed inevitable when Ropata suggested that advantage be taken of the direction of the wind to fire the fern and smoke the enemy from their position. Following close behind the smoke screen, the friendlies were able to enfilade the Hauhau rifle pits, and the enemy retired with the loss of 80 killed. That he retained some of the barbaric tendencies of the old Maori was evident from his shooting of the Ngati-Kahungunu chief Tuatine Tama-i-ongarangi and three other prisoners taken at Waikaremoana. His uncle Rawiri Hika-rukutai was killed on that day.

Ropata rendered valuable service in the operations after the Poverty Bay massacre. In Nov 1868 he personally reconnoitred Te Kooti's position at Makaretu, and on the following day led a party of Ngati-Porou and Ngati-Kahungunu down a bushy slope on the enemy's left. Emerging boldly from the bush, he advanced through the fern, keeping up a steady fire, and charged the works with his Ngati-Porou, driving the Hauhau into the river in their rear, and disposing of 63 of them, including the notorious chief Nama. The climax of his services was at the storming of Ngatapa, where Te Kooti was strongly fortified with a garrison of 300. In the first assault (5 Dec 1868) he and Preece climbed a cliff with a few followers and all day enfiladed the Hauhau trenches, capturing a portion of the outer works. Left with only 30 followers, Ropata established himself close in front of the formidable pa. After fighting at close quarters the whole night without reinforcements, he retreated at dawn, carrying off his wounded, and was not pursued. He lost six killed and seven wounded out of his 30. For this day's service he received the New Zealand Cross. In the final attack on the pa, on 4 Jan 1869, Ropata again showed conspicuous gallantry, exposing himself without fear to the enemy fire. After the fall of this position Ropata dealt with the prisoners, and as they were brought in and stripped over a hundred were shot on the edge of the cliff. In Feb 1870 Ropata with 370 Ngati-Porou continued his campaign in the Urewera and fought his way through to Waimana, on the Bay of Plenty. While Colonel Porter was taking the Horoeka pa Ropata was involved in a hard fight at Te Kakari, a few miles distant. He then made his way out to the coast to meet the Whanganui contingent. Porter commanded the advance guard, and at the junction of the Waioeka and Waipuna rivers Ropata led the harassed rearguard. Hearing that Te Kooti was in the pa at Maraetahi, he led skirmishers up the exposed riverbed until they reached the cover of an overhanging bank. There they formed, poured in a hot fire and stormed the pa, from which Te Kooti had fled. Late in 1871 Ropata's force, consisting mainly of Aowera, captured near Ruatahuna Kereopa (who was implicated in the murder of Volkner). He thoroughly subdued the Urewera. His column, the last to be in the field, embarked in the Luna at Whakatane in Dec and landed at Ropata's pa at Open Bay, East Cape.

Ropata was appointed officer in charge of the Ngati-Porou district at a salary of £200; and assessor at £100 (increased in 1879 by £100 for duty as land purchase officer; and later reduced to £50). Some years later he received a sword of honour from Queen Victoria, and from the New Zealand Government a pension of £100 a year. In May 1887 he was called to the Legislative Council as a life member. He attended fairly regularly, but only once made a noteworthy speech. Ropata died at Gisborne on 1 Jul 1897. He was buried with military honours upon the rock fortress of Pupaka, in the Waiomatatini valley, the scene of many Maori exploits.

Speaking in the Legislative Council, the Hon M. S. Grace said Ropata was one of the bravest men he had ever seen in action. He was astonished that so great a man, so noble a character, so gallant a chief, was so little known.

N.Z.P.D., 1897-98, p. 6, 7, 9-10; W. L. Williams, Hist Records; Polyn. Jour., iv, 28, xi, 219; Cowan, Wars (p); Sketches (p); Gudgeon (p); biography by T. W. Porter (p); Lambert (p); Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxx, 55.

Reference: Volume 2, page 131

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