TE WAHAROA (1776-1838) was the son of Taiporutu, a chief of Ngati-Haua who was killed (c. 1780) fighting against the Ngati-Tama at Poutama, and whose body was suspended head downwards in the 'waharoa' (or main gate) of the hostile pa Kawau. (See Kasara.) From this incident the son took his name. As an infant Waharoa lived at Maungakawa, but when he was two years of age he and his mother were carried off by invading Ngati-Whakaue to Rotorua. About 1795 he was allowed to return to his father's people, a small tribe of about 400 toas residing in the Maungakawa range. The many Ngapuhi incursions from which they suffered at that time gave the young chief much experience of war. He was a man of courage, subtlety and enterprise, very daring in single combat and with some reputation for recklessness and cruelty. Allying himself with the Waikato and Ngati-Maniapoto, he took some part in driving Te Rauparaha from Maungatautari towards Cook Strait. After the disastrous defeat of Waikato at Motunui (1822) he tried to persuade Te Wherowhero to resume the fight. He himself engaged the enemy (probably the Ngati-Tama, who had killed his father) and was defeated. In the course of a campaign against Waikato he ate a woman related to Potatau; but he astutely made peace with Te Wherowhero and, having planted the friendly Ngati-Koroki at Maungatautari, he turned his eyes towards the seaboard of the Bay of Plenty. Before entering upon his long struggle with the Ngati-Maru for possession of the coast Waharoa made friends with the Ngai-te-Rangi at Tauranga. In 1825 he agreed with Takurua that they should live together at Matamata, but two years later, while he was on a short visit to Tauranga, his people rose treacherously and slew the whole of the Ngati-Maru, devouring their bodies and appropriating their wives. Fugitives from Mau-ina-ina and Mokoia having settled at Haowhenua and thus strengthened the Ngati-Maru to interrupt communications between the Ngati-Haua and Waikato, Te Waharoa summoned Waikato and Ngati-Maniapoto to his help, and in 1831 a taua of 900 men set out from Maungatautari. Deciding to meet him in the field, the Ngati-Maru, Ngati-Tama-Tera and Ngati-Paoa attacked on the plain at Taumatawiwi. They were repulsed and driven back with great slaughter across the hill Te Tihi-o-te-Ihumarangi.

Waharoa, who was wounded with a tomahawk in the leg and shot through the hand, announced that all who cared to leave the pa within four days might do so; after that the position would be ruthlessly sacked. This invitation was accepted, and Waharoa was now able to push his frontier forward to Te Aroha. His position at Matamata, however, was endangered by the repeated incursions of Ngapuhi, who used their guns to avenge the help given by Waharoa to Ngai-te-Rangi. Besieged on one occasion by Tareha, Te Waharoa kept close within his defences until the boldness of the enemy enabled him to achieve a successful sortie and to capture a few prisoners, whom he crucified on the high posts of his palisade. Discouraged by the sight, Tareha retired, declining Waharoa's challenge to single combat with the long-handled tomahawk. He was often fighting in Taranaki; at Sugar Loaf in 1833, and Te Ruaki in 1834, finally making peace after the failure at Te Namu in that year. Late in 1833 he discussed the location of the Thames mission with Henry Williams and showed a desire for peace with Ngapuhi and Ngati-Maru, suggesting that their chiefs should come to him at Matamata. He was a venerable grey-haired old man, abounding in common sense and showing an intelligent interest in the missions. In 1834 he regretted being unable to have a missionary as Thames and Waikato had.

Unfortunately in Dec 1835 Waharoa's cousin Hunga was treacherously murdered at Rotorua by Huka, a secondary chief of Ngati-Whakaue, with whom he had been on good terms up to that time. Feeling himself obliged to take revenge, Waharoa early in 1836 mustered a taua of over 1,000 men, consisting of Ngati-Haua, Waikato and Ngati-Maniapoto (the latter two contingents under Te Kanawa and Mokorou). On 29 Mar he stormed the pa at Maketu, in which were the aged Nainai and a body of Ngati-Pukenga, and Te Haupapa with his Ngati-Whakaue. Te Haupapa was killed and a European (Tapsell, q.v.) was saved by the intercession of the missionaries. In spite of the protests of the missionaries, who were now settled in his neighbourhood, Waharoa participated in eating the bodies of 14 Arawa. Many slaves were carried off. Within four weeks Ngati-Whakaue at Ohinemutu had mustered 4,600 men to avenge Maketu. On 5 May they took Te Tumu, on the left bank of the Kaituna, two miles from Maketu. It was a Ngai-te-Rangi pa garrisoned by only 100 men under Kiharoa, Hikareia, Tupaea and Te Koke, all of whom were involved in Waharoa's quarrel with Ngati-Whakaue. Seeking vengeance for the fall of this position, Waharoa on 1 Aug was encamped within two or three miles of the strongly fortified pa at Ohinemutu, where the Ngati-Whakaue had hauled up their canoes for safety. A feint attack on 6 Aug, led by Wetini Taiporutu, drew out a strong pursuing party, upon whom Waharoa fell with his usual ruse. One ambush had been laid on each side of the track (commanded respectively by Pohipohi and Waharoa), but owing to fear of each other's bullets they could not act freely, and the scheme failed. By the time Waharoa reached the gate of the pa it was closed against him by Korokai, who refused to flee in the canoes to Mokoia. Ngati-Haua and Waikato contented themselves with a great cannibal feast and with plundering the mission stations. A pakeha who had protested against being despoiled was saved from death by the interposition of Tamihana Tarapipipi (Waharoa's son, q.v.). Annoyed at the miscarriage of his plan of action, Waharoa challenged Pohipohi to single combat. Lame and ageing, he fought fiercely until his followers separated them. Thus terminated Waharoa's campaign against the Arawa. Pango bewailed the fact that he had not killed Waharoa instead of carrying the two-year-old captive in a basket to Rotorua.

Waharoa now retired to his own country. A few years later he became ill with erysipelas and was carried home to Matamata, where he died before 20 Sep 1838. He had remained a cannibal practically to the end. He was of middle stature, had small features, grey beard and very neat hair (says W. Williams in 1834). He was a man of great courage and enterprise and crafty in the extreme. In the changing times of the early pakeha immigration he warmly patronised the newcomers.

His successor was Te Arahi, who married Penenga, daughter of Hakairo. He was a man of fine presence, but without mental qualities and was deposed by the tribe in favour of his younger brother Tamihana Tarapipipi. (q.v.).

S. P. Smith, Wars; Wilson; Buller; Carleton; Gisborne; Gudgeon, Hist.; Taylor; A. N. Brown, Polyn. Jour., iv, 30, viii, 144; ix, 30; xi, 219, 222; xii, 42; xiii, 39-41; xv, 37, 38, 164, 165; xvi, 19, 24, 25; xvii, 196, 198, 224, 226; xviii, 115, 120, 127; xix, 60, 67, 74; xxx, 256; xxxii, 122, 128; Ancient Hist. Maori, iv, 105; v, 184-197, 214, 215, 221, 225-252, 259-270; vi, 1, 58, 90; Shortland, Traditions and Superstitions, 16, 84, 92, 93; Shortland, Religion and Mythology, 43; Te Ika a Maui, 326, 527; Dominion Museum Bulletin, vi, 120; x, 178; Trans. N.Z. Inst., vols. v, xiii, xxi, xl, xlii.

Reference: Volume 2, page 220

🌳 Further sources