TE WHETU, a Ngati-Raukawa chief, was born probably about 1780. On the southward march in 1824 to join Te Rauparaha he captured (with Te Whatu) the Ngati-Apa pa at Rangiure and sacked Pikitane and Awahuri (when Te Aonui was captured). They then captured Whakatipua and the Rangitane pa of Tiakitahuna (in which was the chief Tamati Panau, father of Keri te Panau). Te Whetu settled in lower Manawatu. He married Hinetiti, a Rangitane woman whom he had taken prisoner, and afterwards at her wish settled down with the Ngati-Wehiwehi hapu at Te Iwi te Kari (near Foxton). When Te Whetu visited Colonel Wakefield in the Tory at D'Urville Island in 1839, he appeared to be about 60 years of age, but was still strong and fond of conversation. He accepted Christianity a few weeks later. When Wakefield next visited him in 1840 he was in failing health.

S. P. Smith, Wars; Taranaki; E. J. Wakefield, Polyn. Jour., viii, 215; ix, 113; xi, 62, 208.

Reference: Volume 2, page 249

🌳 Further sources