Te Wera Hauraki

From about 1818 to 1821, Te Wera went on expeditions and fought battles in the Bay of Plenty and the East Coast.

In 1823, he was one of the leaders of the Ngāpuhi attack that defeated Te Arawa at Mokoia island in Lake Rotorua.

Hauraki was the son of Kaiteke[1] or Kaitara, a leader of Ngāti Hineira and Te Uri Taniwha hapū of Ngāpuhi.

[2] At the end of 1819, Te Wera, Tītore, and others set out on another expedition to the East Coast, which lasted sixteen months.

Te Koki and Ta-waewae called for an immediate attack, saying “blood has flown; do not let it get cold!” But Te Wera convinced Ngāpuhi to wait a year, saying, "leave it for next year, so that dried kumara and fish may be obtained for the belly that supports the legs.

"[1] Thus, in February 1823,[8] Te Wera, Pōmare, and Hongi Hika led an expedition to the Bay of Plenty.

[8][7][2] Te Ao-kapurangi, who was related to the people of the area, negotiated safe passage up the valley for the expedition.

Hongi Hika then attacked with the main body of Ngāpuhi troops and they succeeded in landing.

[2] Takaanui Hōhaia Tarakawa says that Hongi Hika was at the front and was knocked down by a bullet to his helmet, while Te Wera and Pōmare were in the second wave.

my back has been climbed by one who is now in your presence" and he insisted that Ngāpuhi make peace with Te Arawa and end the campaign.

Although he had intended to stay only briefly, he ended up remaining at Te Māhia for the rest of his life.

[2] Sometime after this, Te Wera joined Tiakitai on an expedition south to attack Hakikino at Maungarake (near Masterton in the Wairarapa).

A lament for Paerikiriki is preserved by John Te Herekiekie Grace and Takaanui Hōhaia Tarakawa.

[38][39] The force continued on to Lake Rotoatara, where victory was predicted for them by Te Pareihe's tohunga, Toiroa.

The force moved on to Kahotea, where Toiroa pointed out a broken musket, asserting "By this gun shall the chief die!"

[40][41][2][42] Ngāpuhi pursued some of the routed enemy towards Ohau-heihei and fought a short engagement with them before the chieftainess Parerape and Te Ipututu Tarakawa brokered a truce.

[43] Te Momo-a-Irawaru was away while this was happening, collecting kōrau (black tree fern), so the attackers waited for him to return.

From there, he raided the kumara fields of Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Whatuiapiti at Te Whanganui a Orotu (on the Wharerangi flats west of Napier), killing all of the women who were working there.

[44] Te Wera and Te Pereihe launched an expedition in revenge, taking their canoes up the Tukituki river to Papanui (near Patangata), where they hauled the canoes over to Lake Rotoatara and besieged the island fortress for two months (according to Grace) or six days (according to Tarakawa).

Te Motumotu attempted to escape with his wife and daughter in a canoe, but was caught and killed.

Ngāpuhi feigned a retreat (Māori: manukāwhaki), fleeing up Te Whiti-o-Tū hill.

Whakaheke had just caught up with Rangituruturua's part of the force and was about to strike a fatal blow, when Te Hihiko's men opened fire.

[50][51][2] On returning to Rotoatara, Te Wera called a meeting at Tanenuiarangi and he convinced Pareihe and Tiakitai that the situation was still dangerous and that they should bring all their people to Māhia, where he could protect them.

[2] In 1832, Te Wera made plans to join the attack of his kinsman Tītore on Tauranga, but this did not come to pass.

The local chief Tatua-harakeke took his canoe along the Bay of Plenty coast, gathering allies to come to his aid.

As they landed, the defenders of Toka-a-Kuku launched a sortie but Te Wera split his forces, sending seventy musketmen to attack the new arrivals, leaving a hundred to maintain the siege.

[2] Takaanui Tarakawa says of him: The people who lived under his authority wondered at him, on account of his admirable government.

He never feared war, and great was his knowledge of strategy in besieging pas, and causing the overthrow of the enemy in battle.

Do thy own work.” But if Te Wera saw it was a just cause he would consent to conduct the war in order that it might be quickly closed.

(Give thought) to Te Wera there, Whose fame spreads afar, Even to the distant west, For the sorrow that overcomes me, For the tears of my eyes That silently fall.