TE OTANE, a celebrated chief of the Wairoa branch of Ngati-Kahungunu, was the son of Te Maha and nephew of Tapuae. He married Whewhera, a daughter of Rangi-tuanui, of Ngati-Porou and the sister of Moewhare, chief of the Manukanui pa, where Napier parade now is. Rangi-Tuanui's people having been slaughtered by Ngati-Hinganga, Otane led a taua against them and killed a party of 50 whom he surprised at the Kahauroa river. Then he surprised the Kakapo pa, and after slaughtering the defenders proceeded in three canoes up the river to attack the main pa at Te Maihi. The enemy were aware of his approach, but inadvertently left a ladder hanging, by which Te Otane gained admission and killed all the garrison. Having loaded the canoes with the bodies of the dead, he returned home. Shortly afterwards he undertook a new expedition against Te Kapu. His cousins, jealous of his overbearing manner, attacked him while his men were absent. He escaped by a ruse, defeated his assailants and proceeded to pa Makeakea to plan revenge. His cousin Taiwhaka-huka, the leader of the plot, fled to Aropaoa-nui, but Te Otane chased him and he escaped with a small following to Wairarapa, where he became chief of a tribe and was afterwards killed in battle. To propitiate Otane, now a man of great fame, the Wairarapa people sent him Taiwhaka-huka's heart in a calabash. Otane built himself a pa at Taramarama, where he was attacked by a strong force sent against him by his uncle, Tapuae. He killed the commander in single combat. Tapuae then made peace and the whole tribe proceeded to seek vengeance for injuries suffered at the hands of Apanui. A taua of 2,000 under Te Otane and Te Kahu-o-te-Rangi marched as far as Opotiki. Te Kahu's attack on three different pas failed, and Te Otane then took command and captured all three.

Lambert; S. P. Smith, Wars.

Reference: Volume 2, page 73

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