Te TAKINGA: The warrior chief and the battle of Rotoiti

The son of Tamakari, Pikiao (the second), bore a son Te Takinga who had three wives

Hinekiri, Hineui and Hineora. The wharenui at Te Takinga marae situated in Mourea by

the Ohau channel bears the name of this ancestor and the dining room is the name of

his third wife Hineora. This union bore them six children Te Rangikaheke, Tutaki, Parua,

Ruamoko, Kiore and Hikaawarua. Te Takinga also had sons to Hinekiri (Manene and

Mango) and Hineui (Te Awanui). They were all to play a part in the full occupation of

Rotoiti by Ngāti Pikiao.

Te Takinga was a fighting chief of great renown who was instrumental in securing

possession of the Lake Rotoiti district from Tūhourangi who were occupying a number

of pa sites in the Rotoiti area including sites around the Motutawa / Ōkawa bay region.

At that time, Te Takinga and his people resided on the shores of Rotoehu at a place

called Te Puia, located at the eastern end of a track called Tahuna which is known

today as Te Ara a Hinehopu (also known as Hongi’s track). It was at this time that the

famed warrior chief Tūtānekai, journeyed from Rotorua to Rotoiti on a friendly visit to the

Tūhourangi people who were living in the Tumoana pā site. There some of his men

engaged in a friendly contest of arms but it developed into a heated fight whereupon

Tūtānekai’s son Tamakuri was killed. Tūtānekai, being greatly outnumbered retreated

and planned his ultimate revenge.

He sought help from other tribes along the coastal regions but they rejected his

overtures because of past histories and existing relationships with Tūhourangi. He

decided to approach Pikiao and his son Te Takinga reasoning that they would be

pleased to get rid of the Tūhourangi people from Rotoiti. This was a high risk option as

Tūtanekai had been involved in past indiscretions with Ngāti Pikiao. However this

worked, a plan was forged, and Ngāti Pikiao under Te Takinga’s leadership waged war

upon Tūhourangi at the Tumoana stronghold. They defeated Tūhourangi at this battle,

and utu was satisfied.

Tūtānekai who apparently did not participate in the battle, gifted a large canoe

to Ngāti Pikiao who then returned to their Te Puia stronghold. Prisoners

were put to death with the exception of Te Aoniwaho who was taken as a wife for

Kotiora another chief of Ngāti Pikiao who resided on the shores of Rotoehu.

It was due to the hard-headed nature of Te Takinga, a great warrior, the Ngāti

Rongomai people are happy to come under the umbrella of Pikiao (even though Pikiao

was Rakeiao’s Grandson and Rakeiao is the dominant line due to the fact he is the

oldest son in the Rangitihi Manawatokotoko line).

It is said that, Te Takinga once told Tūhourangi to return to Tarawera

‘E koro, kua tae ki te wā me hoki koe ki te kāinga’. Te Takinga knew that Tūhourangi was

old, he didn’t have any battalions, his fighting days were over.

Knowing he would have had a battle on his hands he couldn’t win,

Tūhourangi returned to Tarawera with his people. He took the name of Te Pakira and

named the wharenui at Whakarewarewa after it, to remind them of their place in Rotoiti.

Ngāti Rongomai were grateful for this so have been happy to come under the umbrella

of Ngāti Pikiao to keep the peace.

as told to Cian Elyse White by Sir Toby Curtis, June 27, 2018