TE KANI A TAKIRAU (1800-1856) was one of the greatest chiefs of the Maori regime. His dominant position among the aristocracy of the territory between the Bay of Plenty and Wairarapa was mainly due to the marriage of his great-grandmother, Ngunguru-te-rangi, of Hicks Bay, with Tane-toko-rangi, grandson of the warrior chief Konohi of Whangara. The sole issue of this union was the famous Hinematioro, who married a second cousin, Te Hoatiki. Her two daughters married two brothers, the sons of the famous Tolaga Bay chief, Te Whakatatare-o-te-rangi; Ngarangi-kahiwa, the elder, marrying Te Rongo-tu-mamao, and Te Kakari, the younger, marrying Te Amaru. Te Whakatatare was in his prime when Cook visited Tolaga Bay. There was thus merged in the person of Te Kani-a-Takirau, as the son of Ngarangi-kahiwa and Te Rongo-tumamao, the most aristocratic lines of descent on the long seaboard from Opotiki to Port Nicholson. Owing to his high lineage Te Kani never cultivated food for himself, and in the event of his pa being besieged a special body guard was detailed to provide for the safety of his person. As a child he had been in great danger during the Ngati-Maru raid at Mahia, and was released by Potiki when he begged to be killed with a mere appropriate to his rank. In the attacks by Titore, Te Wera and Tu Korehu on the East Coast tribes about 1820 three of his near relatives were killed, and Hinematioro was spirited away by her people to prevent her being captured. Te Kani himself escaped with difficulty, many of his people being killed. In the early nineteenth century he was the most powerful chief on the East Coast. He welcomed Te Wera when he came to settle at Mahia, and begged his assistance in finding the hiding place of his grandmother.

Owing to the restrictions of his high birth, Te Kani's warlike career was not distinguished. Having been defeated by Whanau-a-Apanui at Parinui-te-Ra, he sent Te Houkamau to obtain help from Pareihe and Tiakitai, and together they turned the tables at Toka-a-Kuku (1835). When Te Wera was free to assist Te Kani in his search for Hinematioro he did so by attacking the Ngati-Porou stronghold of Tuatini, which he took.

By virtue of his high lineage Te Kani was offered the position of Maori king in 1854, but declined it. On that occasion he said: "I am a king by right of my ancestors. Hikurangi is not a travelling mountain." The latter expression was a sarcastic reference to the legends of travelling mountains in the Taupo district, whence the offer of the kingship had emanated. In his later years Te Kani was most friendly to the missions. He was a tall, commanding figure, fully tattooed, and wore European dress except on ceremonial occasions. At one time he had ten wives. He was very much addicted to horseracing. It was his invariable practice to give gifts in return for any received by him and he presented his best horse to McLean on the occasion of their first meeting. In 1835 he showed much attention to Polack. He died at Whangara in 1856 and was buried on an island off Tolaga Bay beside his ancestress.

S.P. Smith, Wars; Polyn. Jour., xxv; Polack; Sir Apirana Ngata (information); Lambert, p. 489; W. L. Williams, East Coast.

Reference: Volume 1, page 241

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