TUROA, TE PEEHI (? 1770-1845) was one of the most prominent chiefs of the upper Whanganui, tracing his descent from four of the canoe commanders, Turi, Tama te Kapua, Tamatea and Hoturoa. He was a grandson of Tu-Kaiora and the son of Hitaua; and his own tribe was Ngati-Hau. One of his earliest fights was against the invading Tuhua people at Au-tapu (above Pipiriki). Peehi came down the river and took them in the rear and a stubborn fight took place in the riverbed at Tamahaki's rock, Tamahaki being killed there.

Peehi led 300 of his men in the war party of Te Heuheu and Whatanui to seek vengeance against Ngati-Kahungunu and then to help Ngati-Porou. After a great battle near where Gisborne now is, Peehi returned with many prisoners and much spoil. He was soon after raided by Waikato, who were driven off to Rangitikei. In 1820 Tuwhare's Ngapuhi expedition, returning from the south, pushed far up the river to Te Ana o Tararo, where it found its progress blocked. As the invaders began to retreat Peehi defeated them at Kaiwhakauka. Tuwhare died of wounds and his son, Tokiwhati, was taken prisoner, but ransomed for a suit of armour. In 1821 Peehi attacked Puke, a Ngati-Raukawa chief, at One-poto, high up the Whanganui river, defeated him and then besieged the taua in Makakote pa, where they were reduced by starvation. Meanwhile, Te Anaua having returned down the river, Peehi raised the siege and allowed the survivors to escape. In the following year he was attacked by Whatanui, but peace was made when he released his prisoners. When Te Rauparaha took up his residence south of the Manawatu river Te Peehi plotted with Te Anaua and Paetahi to kill him at Papaitonga, but Te Rauparaha took alarm and escaped. Te Peehi was no more fortunate in the attack at Kapiti; but he escaped destruction by remaining in his canoes. In revenge for these plots Whatanui led two expeditions against Whanganui. At the fall of Putikiwharanui (in 1829) Peehi was allowed to escape by Whatanui on account of his kind treatment of the Ngati-Raukawa prisoners. Peehi Turoa antagonised the Ngati-Apa by cultivating Te Hakeke's lands at Whangaehu, and his cultivations and houses were destroyed by Ngati-Apa and Ngati-Raukawa. In 1832, during the Tamate-uaua migration, he fought with Te Heuheu against the Ngati-Awa migrants at Pukenamu. He was a guest at Ohariu in 1835, but seems not to have been present at the massacre of Muaupoko.

On the arrival of the whites in New Zealand Peehi was consistently hostile to them. He resented the occupation of the lower Whanganui river and the attempts of the missionaries to Christianise the up-river tribes. On this account he joined Te Heuheu's expedition against the Christian tribes in the early forties. When E. J. Wakefield was in Whanganui (in 1840) he met Te Peehi, who was living at Puma, and received from him the offer of a sale of land. The chief signed the Treaty of Waitangi, but he never relented in his hostility to the pakeha. He died at Waipakura, below Upokongaru, on 8 Sep 1845. Te Peehi Turoa's principal wife was a sister of Te Anaua.

Cycl. NZ, i (p); Downes, Old Whanganui; Cowan; Buick, Old Manawatu; Wakefield; S. P. Smith, Wars; Travers; Gudgeon (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 206

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