TAIPORUTU, WETINI (?1814-60), a well-born chief of Ngati-Haua, inferior only to Tamihana te Waharoa, was a noted warrior. He was brave, genial, kindly and unassuming. Attacked in battle with the Ngati-Maniapoto by three young chiefs, he killed them all. He was with the Waikato taua which took Pukerangiora (1831) and was at the attack on Ngamotu (1832). On 6 Aug 1836 he was one of the special leaders in the feint attack ordered by Waharoa to ambush the Ngati-Whakaue venturing out of a pa on Lake Rotorua. Against the advice of his uncle, Tamihana te Waharoa, Wetini led 80 of the Ngati-Haua, with other Waikato tribes, to take part in the fight for the Maori national cause in Taranaki. He joined Wi Kingi at Waitara and to some extent supplanted Hapurona as leader. He agreed to establish a post at Mahoetahi, where he would meet the assault of the troops while Hapurona and Wi Kingi would fall on the enemy. The three leaders sent a challenge to General Pratt. Wetini was badly defeated, the Waikato losing heavily after withstanding a hot fire from the troops (6 Nov 1860). He fought fiercely with native weapons but was killed early in the retreat. He was buried in St Mary's churchyard, New Plymouth. The taua having lost 51 killed, returned much weakened to Waikato. This disaster was a great blow to the national movement.

S. P. Smith, Wars; Cowan; Gorst.

Reference: Volume 2, page 182

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