TARINGA KURI, or TE KAEAEA, was a chief of the Ngati-Tama division of Ngati-Awa and was connected also with Ngati-Maniapoto. A son of Whangataki and Hinewairoro and brother of Te Puoho (q.v.), he lived at Patangata, on the south bank of the Tongaporutu, the pa being an island at high water.

Kaeaea was a very distinguished warrior, who at the siege of Kawau pa in north Taranaki crucified in the doorway Taiporutu, the father of Waharoa (q.v.). Having obtained two muskets from Hongi at Hokianga, and three more for his clan, Kaeaea was on taua when the battle of Motunui was fought (1821). Hence the threat of Te Rauparaha to Te Wherowhero of danger in his rear. On that campaign Kaeaea helped to defeat the Ngati-Urunumia (of Ngati-Maniapoto) at Otama-Kahi (1822). He moved from Poutama, in northern Taranaki, with his tribe in the heke taua (1832) and settled at Waikanae. Thus he was absent from the siege of Ngamotu. With 30 or 40 men he reinforced Otaka during the night but left before daylight. He was called 'Taringa Kuri' from a sarcastic retort of Rangihaeata that 'anyone who could not understand what he said must have dog's ears.' After the massacre of the Ngati-Tama at Te Tarata in 1829, Kaeaea mustered 140 of the Ngati-Tama and Ngati-Toa from Kapiti and Waikanae and a body of Ngati-Mutunga from Port Nicholson (about 340 altogether) and attacked the Ngati-Kahungunu pa at Pehikatia in Wairarapa, killing many of the defenders and saving very few of the prisoners. He settled with a small body at Kaiwara, and declined the invitation of Wharepouri to return to Maungatautari. When the Europeans came to Port Nicholson Taringa Kuri still had his home at Kaiwara and he received for his people about a sixth of the payment made by Colonel Wakefield for the purchase of Port Nicholson. Disputes arose about the Hutt Valley land, and he and his people cut a line as a boundary, contending that the upper valley belonged to Ngati-Tama. In 1842 they built a pa, Makahinuku, about Boulcott's farm and commenced to cultivate land which had been sold to W. Swainson (q.v.). Though he had sold the land for fear of Ngati-Raukawa and Ngati-Toa, Kaeaea was now supported by the Ngati-Toa chiefs, who were incensed at Ngati-Awa taking possession of the valley. When the attack was made on Boulcott's farm Kaeaea was with Governor Grey in the Driver at Auckland. Commissioner Spain considered him a crafty and troublesome chief and he certainly abetted Te Rauparaha in regard to the Hutt disturbances in 1845. In 1855, to prevent him returning to claim his ancestral lands at Taranaki, the Government paid £400 for land at the Hutt on which Taringa Kuri might reside. There Governor Bowen visited him in 1869. He died on 5 Oct 1871.

Cowan, i, 84; Polyn. Jour., vol. i, p. 86; E. J. Wakefield; Bowen; S.P. Smith, Taranaki; Waka Maori, 1871; H. M. Jervis in N.Z. Herald, 23, 30 Apr 1892.

Reference: Volume 2, page 187

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