TE RAUPARAHA (? 1768-1849), the most renowned chief of the Ngati-Toa, was born at Maungatautari. His father, Werawera, was killed in battle, and he was called Te Rauparaha (convolvulus leaf) because the chief who devoured his father threatened to eat him also as a relish for his feast. Te Rauparaha was descended direct from Toa-Rangatira, founder of the Ngati-Toa branch of Tainui. His mother was Parekowhatu (a Ngati-Raukawa woman) and his sister Waitohi was the mother of Rangihaeata (q.v.). Brought up in the chiefly tradition at Kawhia, Te Rauparaha was specially favoured by his mother's people at Maungatautari, with whom he spent a good deal of his boyhood. Though he displayed high mental qualities early in life, his mother favoured the elder brother, Nohorua. A mere girl, Marore, was assigned to him as wife, and a slight was put upon her by a Waikato man. (One account says that Marore was killed at the instigation of Te Wherowhero.) In consequence, Te Rauparaha led a taua against Waikato, but his plans were suspected by Te Haunga, who chased the Ngati-Toa off. Te Rauparaha then, adopting a ruse which he often employed in his later warfare, hid in the scrub, took the pursuers in the rear, and killed 140 of them, including Te Haunga himself, whom he ate as utu for Marore.

Te Rauparaha cultivated the company of strangers, and travelled much to consult famous warriors. On a visit to Ngati-Maru at Thames he was presented with a gun and cartridges. His first noteworthy campaign, a naval expedition against Whaingaroa to avenge a foray upon Raglan, yielded him a decisive victory. His killing of the Waikato chieftain Te Uira in utu for the death of Ngati-Toa had fateful results. In the fighting that followed Te Rauparaha was generally successful, but, lacking muskets, he feared the alliance of Waikato and Ngati-Maniapoto. A taua of 1,600 hostile warriors under Te Rauangaanga (father of Te Wherowhero, q.v.) had already made some headway against him, taking the pa of Hikuparaea and investing that of Te Totara, when Te Rauparaha concluded an expedient peace. He tried to form an alliance against Waikato, but Te Wherowhero's understanding with Te Waharoa (q.v.) dashed his hopes, and the prospects of his people became gradually darker. Throughout 1818 and 1819 he was engaged in hostilities with both Waikato and Taranaki. He was also in difficulties with the Ngati-Rahiri, north of Waitara. With the help of Tuwhare, of Roroa, and some muskets he besieged the hostile stronghold, but after a long investment he concluded peace and proceeded as far as Tataraimaka, on the coast southward of New Plymouth. This was taken with great slaughter, Murupaenga also assisting.

Te Rauparaha then returned to Kawhia to gain reinforcements for his southern expeditions. He was joined by Patuone and Nene and by Tuwhare, so that the total force which advanced through Taranaki in Nov 1819 numbered something like 1,000 warriors, with many muskets. The Manukorihi persuaded the northern army to attack Pukerangiora pa but, finding it too strong, they moved on against the central stronghold of the Ngati-Maru, Te Kerikeringa, which was commanded by Tutuhanga. When the defence had lost hope the pa was evacuated, Tutuhanga and Patuwairua being killed. The Ngati-Ruanui and the Nga-Rauru then stood out of the path of the conquering taua, which passed on to Te Anaua's pa, Purua, on the Whanganui river. They built a fleet of mokihi to cross the river, took the pa and passed on through the deserted country till they reached Otaki. Having gained information of the movements of the Rangitane, the conquerors invested them in the pa at Hotuiti (Awahou), took it and killed all their prisoners, including the chief. The only important survivors were his son Mahuri and Te Awe Awe (q.v.). Te Rauparaha then joined Nene at Otaki, the island of Kapiti being held by Potau and Kotuku. The next step was the routing of Muaupoko at Waimapihi and the seizure of their canoes. The Ngapuhi contingent had a serious disaster when 100 of their warriors were swamped in their canoes off Sinclair Head. The invaders then gathered at Whanganui-a-Tara (Port Nicholson), and carried on the war against Ngati-Ira with varying success. After pursuing Ngati-Kahungunu and Ngati-Ira as far as Porangahau the northern taua, suffering from disease and hunger, betook themselves to the West Coast, where in Jun 1820 they saw a ship (believed to be the Russian cruiser Mirny) passing through the straits. This apparition decided Te Rauparaha to establish himself at Kapiti, and he hastened back to Kawhia to seek support for this new enterprise. Unfortunately for his plans, the old quarrel with Waikato blazed up again, and a hostile taua numbering 1,000 defeated his 300 at Karaka, on Lake Taharoa. Meanwhile Te Wherowhero captured the Waikawaupa pa on the Mokau river, and then moved to join the victors of Te Karaka. Te Rauparaha made a judicious retirement to his stronghold at Te Ariwi, protected on all sides by the sea and laid plans for the southern migration, which was now inevitable. While he was visiting Ngati-Raukawa at Maungatautari to enlist support, their chief Hapi Taurangi died, and Te Rauparaha seized the leadership. He then bargained with Te Wherowhero, offering to give him the Ngati-Toa lands at Kawhia if he would not oppose the migration. He negotiated with Ngati-Awa and Ngati-Tama also for a right-of-way through their Taranaki lands, and arranged for the planting of crops on the way. Late in 1821 Ngati-Toa commenced the march. Te Rauparaha left his wife Te Akau (of Tuhourangi, the relict of his predecessor Hapi Taurangi) at Puohoki, Taranaki; and when he returned from his first journey he found she had borne him a son (Katu, later Tamihana te Rauparaha, q.v.). Beating off the attacks of Ngati-Maniapoto at the mouth of the Awakino, Te Rauparaha made good his escape and harvested the crops at Urenui. His old enemies Waikato and Ngati-Maniapoto came in force to besiege him at Pukerangiora, but, making use of one of his famous ambuscades, he defeated them heavily at Motunui, only Te Wherowhero and Te Waharoa making good their escape. Ngati-Awa now came to Te Rauparaha's help, but his journey to Taupo to interview Te Whatanui (of Ngati-Raukawa) and Te Waru was fruitless. The net result of this pilgrimage was the accession of a few Ngapuhi from Pomare's people at Rotorua and about 400 Ngati-Awa under Reretawhangawhanga (the father of Wi Kingi te Rangitake, q.v.). Accordingly in the autumn of 1822, with a force of 800 men and their families, Te Rauparaha advanced through Taranaki to Patea. There he seized a number of large canoes, which enabled him to transport the women and children by sea. At the Rangitikei mouth the friends of Pikinga (see RANGIHAEATA) came to see the travellers, but the rest of the Ngati-Apa tribe kept out of the way. Once more punishing the Rangitane, whom he encountered near the mouth of the Manawatu, Te Rauparaha pushed on until he reached the Ohau river, where he built a pa and started cultivations. Disregarding a warning, he accepted the invitation of Muaupoko to see their canoes at Papaitonga lake, and was attacked in force at dawn by Muaupoko and Rangitane. Te Rauparaha himself escaped with difficulty, but his two daughters were captured and sent to Wairarapa. Te Rauparaha pretended to move northward, and the following morning his uncle, Te Pehi Kupe (q.v.), launched his canoes and captured Kapiti by surprise. Muaupoko having entrenched themselves on artificial islands in the lakes Papaitonga and Horowhenua, Te Rauparaha captured them in detail, only a few escaping. In 1823, Reretawhangawhanga having left for Taranaki with his Ngati-Awa, Te Rauparaha again appealed to Maungatautari for allies. Te Whatanui had already tried to join him with a taua by way of the East Coast, but had been opposed and driven back by Ngati-Kahungunu. Now a younger chief, Te Ahu Karamu, raised a band of 120 and came south to join Te Rauparaha, and a few more Ngati-Awa came from Taranaki. Te Rauparaha renewed his attack on the Muaupoko, this time at Paekakariki, but his success was spoiled by a raid of Ngati-Kahungunu, who drove him back to Waikanae and then fled across the hills. In face of this new menace Te Rauparaha erected three fortified pas on Kapiti. By treachery he killed the principal chiefs of Rangitane at Hotuiti, after inviting them to parley. Ngati-Apa, under Te Hakeke, made a hurried but successful attack on Rauparaha at Waikanae, killing 60 of his people, including the four daughters of Te Pehi Kupe.

In 1824 Te Raki formed a defensive alliance of Muaupoko, Ngati-Apa and Rangitane, and led a great combined armada against their oppressor at Kapiti. At the north end of the island the surprise failed, and the attackers were driven back. Te Rauparaha then intervened at the centre and threw his forces against Ngati-Apa, who were driven back with great slaughter, many of them being drowned. Their chief Rangimairehau, disdaining to fly, threw himself upon the mercy of Rangihaeata and was killed out of hand. The position at Kapiti gave Te Rauparaha the advantage of a growing intercourse with whalers, from whom he obtained a supply of guns and ammunition. The allotment of the land amongst the various tribes caused some difficulty. Eventually Ngati-Awa were given the country south of the Kukutauaki to Wellington harbour; and Ngati-Raukawa were settled in Horowhenua between the Manawatu and Rangitikei rivers. Te Rauparaha was reinforced by a band of Ngati-Tama from Taranaki (under Te Puoho) and Ngati-Raukawa from Maungatautari under Te Ahu Karamu, Te Whatu and Te Whetu. In the years 1827-28 he completed the subjugation of Muaupoko and Rangitane and ravaged the northern shores of the South Island, where he left his own people in possession. He then turned with a taua of 1,000 men to punish Whanganui for their hostility, and after a siege of eight weeks took the pa at Putikiwaranui. Meanwhile Te Pehi Kupe had returned to Kapiti with a good supply of arms obtained in Sydney for gifts given to him in England. Te Rauparaha with his help and the reinforcements of Whatanui renewed his campaign against the South Island tribes. Approaching Rangitoto (D'Urville Island) in 1829 with 300 men, he surprised Rerewaka, and took him prisoner with the loss of 1,000 killed. Then he undertook the long-delayed punitive expedition against Kekerengu (q.v.), whose adulterous conduct was unexpiated. The offender was pursued and defeated at Omihi and many prisoners were taken. On the urgent advice of Te Pehi Kupe, Te Rauparaha agreed to continue the campaign southward and lay siege to the Ngai-Tahu stronghold at Kaiapohia. But fugitives, preceding them, had warned Ngai-Tahu of the coming raid, and the pa was well prepared. Feigning friendship, Te Rauparaha permitted some of his chiefs to enter the pa in the hope that they would be able to detect weaknesses in the defences. The plot being suspected, the defenders turned upon the chiefs and killed eight of them, including Pokaitara and Te Pehi Kupe. Te Rauparaha, seeing the futility of persevering with the force he then commanded, withdrew to Kapiti to await his time.

Towards the end of the following year (1830) the brig Elizabeth touched at Kapiti and her captain (Stewart) entered into an infamous bargain to purchase a full cargo of flax by taking some of the Ngati-Toa incognito to Akaroa to seize Tamaiharanui. The Elizabeth sailed on 29 Oct with 170 Ngati-Toa warriors hidden on board, including Rangihaeata, Te Hiko and Tungia. The ruse succeeded completely. Tamaiharanui, his wife Te Whe, his daughter Ngaroimata and a large number of Ngai-Tahu were taken prisoner, and the pa of Tahapuneke, in Akaroa harbour, was stormed without difficulty. Tamaiharanui saved his daughter from a worse fate by strangling her in her sleep. For six weeks the Elizabeth lay off Kapiti awaiting her full cargo. Then the prisoners were handed over to the Ngati-Toa and the brig sailed. The Ngai-Tahu chief was killed by Te Pehi's chief widow Tiaia, and the rest of the prisoners were massacred and eaten.

Te Rauparaha now prepared an expedition of 750 men (Ngati-Toa, Ngati-Awa and Ngati-Raukawa), all well armed with muskets and fully provisioned to proceed to Kaiapohia. The first division landed at the Wairau and marched overland to the mouth of the Waipara river, the rest joining them by sea. The pa at Kaiapohia was found to be occupied mainly by women and children and old people, the rest having gone to Whareraupo to bid farewell to the southern chief Taiaroa. Two attacks having failed, Te Rauparaha and Rangihaeata decided to besiege the pa. Taiaroa, apprised of the danger, returned with his men and took charge of the defence, which continued for three months. Three saps were driven towards the palisade, one by each tribe, and faggots were piled up in the hope of burning it. At this stage Taiaroa, seeing the hopelessness of the position, withdrew with his men to create a diversion in Otago. The tohungas of both sides prayed for a favourable wind for the conflagration. No sooner had the faggots been kindled than the breeze turned against the defenders, and only 200 escaped from the ruined stronghold. Then Te Rauparaha turned his attention to the pas of Ripapa (Lyttelton harbour) and Onawe (Akaroa). The avenging Ngai-Tahu from Otago, under Tuhawaiki, overtook the retreating conquerors at cape Campbell, and surprised them with the rapidity of their march. Te Rauparaha himself had to swim off to his canoes and escaped with difficulty to Cloudy Bay. Losing no time in gathering reinforcements of Ngati-Awa from Wairau, Te Rauparaha turned in pursuit, and overtook Tuhawaiki at the Flaxbourne river. About 140 Ngati-Awa were destroyed in trying to cut off Tuhawaiki's retreat, and after a drawn battle the southern chief made good his escape to Kaikoura. When at length he got back to Kapiti Te Rauparaha found Ngati-Awa, Ngati-Raukawa and Ngati-Ruanui quarrelling over their land boundaries on the Manawatu coast. Enfeebled by his recent campaigns, he appealed to Te Heuheu (q.v.) to settle the dispute. The Taupo chief brought a taua of 800 warriors and soundly defeated the Ngati-Awa at Pakakutu, at the mouth of the Otaki river (Takarangi being killed). Peace was then concluded, but Te Rauparaha, uneasy at the troubled aspect of affairs, prepared to lead his followers back to the north with Te Heuheu. At the Ohau river he yielded to the appeals of his people to remain. But his campaigning days were over. He again visited the settlements in the South Island, and seems once more to have had a narrow escape from the daring Tuhawaiki. Later a taua from Otago under Taiaroa encountered him at Waitohi and retreated intact after a few days' fighting. In the north there was again an opportunity for revenge against Rangitane. Te Rauparaha destroyed a force under Mahuri, but suffered the loss of 60 of his followers at the hands of Te Awe Awe. At the tangi following the death of Rangihaeata's mother (Waitohi), disputes arose between Ngati-Raukawa and Ngati-Awa which Te Rauparaha did nothing to compose, and he was a satisfied spectator at the bloody battle of Kuititanga, in which Ngati-Raukawa were beaten, on the very day (6 Oct 1839) that the Tory hove to off Kapiti to see him.

On the following morning the New Zealand Company's ship fired a salute of heavy guns in honour of Te Rauparaha. On the 24th, after protracted negotiations, both Te Rauparaha and Te Hiko signed the agreement of sale of territory about Kapiti and in the South Island. Te Rauparaha insisted upon receiving guns and munitions of war in payment; Te Hiko had his mind set upon clothing and tools. On 14 May 1840, Te Rauparaha signed the Treaty of Waitangi in the presence of the Rev Henry Williams, and on 19 Jun he signed again in the presence of Major Bunbury. He always insisted that he had sold nothing in the South Island except D'Urville Island and Blind Bay, and when the Wairau dispute arose in 1843 he warned Captain Wakefield not to persist in the survey, which he opposed deliberately and consistently at every stage. On 1 Jun he went with Rangihaeata and burned the surveyors' huts throughout the disputed area. During the fatal argument with the magistrates from Nelson he was firm but conciliatory; his resistance to violence only broke down upon Rangihaeata's impassioned demand for utu for the death of Te Rongo. After the disaster Te Rauparaha proceeded to Waikanae and Otaki to explain the affair to his people. Feeling ran high, and the truculent counsels of Rangihaeata (in which Te Rauparaha appears occasionally to have participated) were only neutralised by the influence of the Rev O. Hadfield and Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake. Te Rauparaha contemplated retiring into the interior to consolidate his forces in view of an attack by the troops, and he made conciliatory overtures to Ngai-tahu in the South Island. The incident was closed on 12 Feb 1844 when Governor FitzRoy, with Major Richmond and William Spain, visited Waikanae and heard the chief's story of the occurrences. FitzRoy declared that the pakeha were undoubtedly in the wrong and, much as he deplored the murder of the prisoners after they had surrendered, he decided not to exact punishment.

Sir George Grey, who took office as Governor in Nov 1845, was not able, in the unsettled state of native affairs, to feel any confidence in the conduct of the Ngati-Toa chiefs. After the attack in the Hutt Valley by Rangihaeata, he came reluctantly to the conclusion that Te Rauparaha's conduct was not above suspicion, and that his influence was liable to fan the flames of sedition. In this belief he took the extreme step of having him arrested at his pa at Taupo (Plimmerton) and taken on board H.M.S. Driver (23 Jul 1846). He was transferred to the Calliope, and kept a prisoner, but was never brought to trial. After ten months in the Calliope he was allowed to live in Auckland on security being given by Te Wherowhero and Nene for his good behaviour. A great gathering of Hauraki chiefs was held in his honour in Sep 1847.

Te Rauparaha then petitioned the Governor to allow him to return to his own people, and he was taken thither in Jan 1848 in H.M.S. Inflexible, the Governor and Lady Grey, Te Wherowhero, Taraia and other chiefs being also on board. He landed on 16 Jan at Otaki, where thereafter he lived very quietly, and where the Ngati-Raukawa built a fine church. He saw much of Hadfield, but he was never baptised. He died at Otaki on 27 Nov 1849 and was buried opposite the church.

Te Rauparaha was rather short in stature, but very powerful. According to Mundy, his countenance was 'repulsive beyond description.' He had an aquiline profile, retreating forehead and overhanging upper lip. At 60 he was hale and stout and looked much younger. Hadfield considered him a man of high intellect.

G.B.O.P., 1840/238, 1844/556; Hist. Rec. Aust., xvi, 237; Stack; Shortland; E. J. Wakefield; Buick, Marlborough and Old New Zealander (p); Thomson; McKillop; Cowan; Bevan (p); H. T. Kemp in N.Z. Herald, 23 Mar 1901.

Reference: Volume 2, page 103

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