TE ANAUA (also called Tu, and Hori Kingi) was a prominent Whanganui chief in the early part of the nineteenth century. He was head chief of the Ngati-Ruaka and uncle of Keepa te Rangihiwinui (q.v.). Te Pehi Turoa married his sister, and with him and Paetahi planned the attack on Te Rauparaha at Kapiti.

At the time of the invasion of Ngapuhi under Tuwhare (1819-20) Te Anaua and his brother were in command of the Whanganui and Ngati Hau at Purua when they were attacked by Tuwhare, who had four muskets. Tuwhare's son being captured, he gave a suit of armour as ransom. Having lost two brothers killed by the Amiowhenua expedition at Mangawere (1821), Anaua followed up the expedition to Mangatoa, two miles south of Koriniti, defeated it and continued the chase as far as Taupo, inflicting some losses on Waikato. He was afterwards called Hori Kingi. About 1828, with Pehi Turoa, he attacked a strong position of Ngati-Raukawa high up the river; defeated them and returned to Whanganui with his taua of 400. In the storming of Putikiwaranui (1829) Te Anaua was spared by Te Whatanui on account of his consideration for the Ngati-Raukawa. In 1832 he opposed the passage of the heke Tama te Uaua.

Te Anaua signed the treaty of Waitangi in 1840 and in the forties was an assessor at Putiki. In the disturbances of that decade he was taunted by the natives for taking up arms against his own tribe. In 1848 he divided the money received for the sale of 80,000 acres of land. Donald McLean recommended him for a pension of £20 as 'the most tried, faithful and zealous supporter of the Government.' This was granted in 1859. At the conference at Kohimarama (1860) Governor Gore Browne gave Te Anaua a staff of honour from the Queen and others to hand to his brother Mawae, to Pehi Turoa and Aperahama Tipai. Early in 1865 Te Anaua accompanied Grey to Weraroa to summon the pa to surrender. When the friendlies from Whanganui refused to march with General Chute on the inland route to New Plymouth Te Anaua, at Featherston's request, succeeded in persuading them (1866). He died on 18 Sep 1868.

App. H.R., 1865-68; Cowan, Wars; Downes, Whitmore.

Reference: Volume 1, page 22

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