TE PAEA, who was born in 1824, was the daughter of Te Wherowhero and sister of the second Maori King (Matutaera). She was a woman of brilliant intellectual talents, great resolution and liberal ideas. On the inauguration of the King movement she went to live in Waikato, much against the wish of her father. Sir John Gorst considered she would have made a good successor to Te Wherowhero, but she withdrew when Matutaera was proposed. She did her utmost to prevent the outbreak of war, and when it became inevitable determined to return to her home at Mangere. She made herself responsible, however, for the safety of the government station, school and other property at Te Awamutu. Fearing that Awaitaia's road from Raglan would destroy the security of the King country, she pulled up the survey pegs.

Gorst.

Reference: Volume 2, page 74

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