TE WARU, a chief of Ngai-te-Rangi, lived at Mercury Bay. He killed the niece of Te Morenga, who had been carried off by the Venus (1806). When in 1820 Te Morenga went to Matakana in search of utu, Te Waru hurled defiance at him. They fought next day. Te Waru having delivered the first volley with spears, Te Morenga's muskets killed many of his people and the others fled. Te Waru hid in the bush and as he still showed defiance, the Ngapuhi chiefs insisted on chastening him when he renewed the attack. The Ngai-te-Rangi were defeated with great slaughter; their canoes and 200 prisoners being taken back to Bay of Islands (where they arrived on 2 Mar 1820). Before they left Te Waru submitted, and Te Morenga gave him a musket as a peace offering. Another account of the peace with Ngapuhi says that about 1818, when Ngapuhi were assaulting Matuaaewe pa at Tauranga, Te Waru ventured out during the midday siesta and reconnoitred the enemy position and captured Te Morenga, whom he took into the pa and then liberated. This incident led to a peace being concluded. Te Waru in 1821-22 refused to join Te Rauparaha's expeditions to the south. He was killed at the second siege of Te Pakake, Hawke's Bay, whither he went to avenge the death of his brother Te Umu Kohukohu at the siege of 1824.

S. P. Smith, Maori Wars; J. A. Wilson, Life of Te Waharoa.

Reference: Volume 2, page 236

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