TE MAUTARANUI, or RANGI-AHO (?-1826) was a principal chief of Tuhoe and Ngati Awa, also of the Tama-Kaimoana branch of Urewera. He was descended from Toi-Kairakau, who was in Aotearoa before the fleet of 1350 A.D. arrived. When Pomare invaded Tuhoe (1822) Mautaranui, who was with a taua at Maungapohatu, sent his brother Te Iripa to reconnoitre the strange force. Finding that Pomare was with them, he sent four envoys to meet him and at his invitation proceeded to Manawaru to make a formal peace, which was lasting. At the meeting at Puketi to cement the peace Mautaranui, at the instigation of Pomare, challenged and outran the speedy Ngapuhi warrior Te Hihi.

Two years later, wishing to obtain vengeance against the Wairoa people, Mautaranui paid a round of visits to Whakatane, Tauranga (Te Waru), Hauraki (Ngati-Tamatera) and to the Ngati-Paoa and then on to Tai-amai, Bay of Islands. Having enlisted the help of all the tribes mentioned, he appealed successfully to Pomare, who in May 1824 rounded East Cape in his fleet to join Mautaranui at Mahia. The allied taua marched overland, and was reinforced at Ruatahuna by the Arawa, Urewera and Ngati-Awa. Before joining Pomare, Mautaranui took one division from Maungapohatu to Papuni, on the upper Wairoa river, and at Wai reporepo severely defeated the Ngati-Kahungunu under Tu-Akiaki, Mautaranui himself wounding the chief Te Ua in the back. Meanwhile Pomare had taken Titirangi. Mautaranui had other successes at Moumouka and Pukekaroro, after which they made peace. Tu-Akiaki achieved his design by persuading Mautaranui to marry his sister Te Motu o Ruhe. A year later he invited him to attend a great hakari at Kaitarahae, on the birth of their child. Disregarding the warnings of Te Ua, Mautaranui accepted the invitation and with his younger brother Paetawa was treacherously killed at the feast (1826). His death was avenged by Pomare at Pohatu-roa, where Tu-Akiaki was killed by Te Whatanui.

Lambert; S. P. Smith; J. H. Grace.

Reference: Volume 2, page 41

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