TU KOREHU, or PEHI KOREHU (?-1836), one of the most famous chiefs of Ngati-Maniapoto in the early nineteenth century, was a man of giant stature and great courage. He is said to have possessed a pou-whenua which taxed the strength of two men. In 1820, with 140 warriors, he attacked the Ngati-Awa on the Waitara river. He retreated to Mahoetahi; but the Ngati-Awa were afraid to pursue him. Already a veteran, he joined the Amio-whenua in 1821. In that year, in fighting against the Rongo-whakaata at Turanganui, he killed some of the relatives of Te Kani-a-Takirau. His son Tu-Korehu was killed while attempting to capture a historic mere. The Waikato contingent, numbering 140, crossed to Hawke's Bay and captured Roto-atara, where Tu-Korehu lost another son, Te Arawai, killed by a stone thrown from a tower. Fighting their way through Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa, the ope visited Port Nicholson and then passed up the west coast. High up the Whanganui river they fought several battles against Te Anaua (killing two of his brothers), but Tu-Korehu barely managed to escape to Waitara with a small following. Te Manu-Tohera (Ngati-Awa) received them kindly and allowed them to gain the shelter of Pukerangiora, where they were besieged by Ngati-Awa. A message was sent to Te Wherowhero, who had been fighting against Te Rauparaha and was beaten at Okoki (Nov 1821). He escaped with the remnant of his force and joined Tu-Korehu at Pukerangiora. After recruiting their strength, the combined force withdrew and regained Waikato. Tu-Korehu had travelled 800 miles since leaving his pa, Mangatoatoa, on the Waipa.

In 1822 he assisted Ngati-Tuwharetoa to square accounts with the Tuhoe. In 1824, on a campaign of vengeance against the Ngati-Kahungunu, he sacked Pakake pa. In 1826 he was invited by Ngatata to join in attacking the Ngati-Ruanui for the death of Te Karawa. When the great Waikato taua in 1831 besieged Pukerangiora, Tu-Korehu was accused of betraying his Ngati-Awa friends of 1822. He insisted on following up the vanquished, and led three assaults on Ngamotu (1832) with the whole of the Ngati-Apakura hapu. In the following year he participated in the assault on Sugar Loaf and took back to Waikato many prisoners, whom he would not allow to be killed. He then made peace with Matakatea and began his final campaign against the Ngati-Ruanui (1834) to obtain utu for the death of Te Kohuwai. He was drowned on 21 May 1836 while crossing Kawhia harbour.

Tu-Korehu was closely associated with the missions in his later years, but scoffed at the new religion.

S.P. Smith, Wars; Polyn. Jour., vol. 18

Reference: Volume 2, page 204

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