Quick Facts

Whawhakia

Whawhakia

Whawhakia was born in 1640 at Te Rape, in the Whatawhata region.  She was one of the daughters of Ruateatea and Hinekino (Parekino). 

If you view the Kaitumutumu Marae website, all the names above are the names of their whare. Nga mihi nga whanaunga ki Kaitumutumu 

Whawhakia married Pakaraka, a Chief of Ngati Naho and Ngati Hine.  His pa was called ' Paanawaka', which once stood next to Lake Waikare. 

Pakaraka was a man of great mana which impressed the father of Whawhakia, Ruateatea.  It was said that when Ruateatea took his daughter to Waikato and left her with Pakaraka the brothers of Whawhakia got angry with their father so Ruateatea came back to Waikato to fetch his daughter and her new husband Pakaraka.

Before they returned back with Ruateatea they were both married at 'Rauwhitu', the original name of land now known as Rangiriri and lived out their lives at Purakau where all of their children were born in the 1670's. Both Whawhakia and Pakaraka died at a place called Whakataki and were buried in a urupa called Te Kakau.

Below Mt Pirongia is the Kaniwhaniwha stream, it was said by Kaumatua that a 'puna' or spring along this stream had been named in honour of our tupuna the puna is called Te Puna o Whawhakia. Close to this site was another sacred place in memory of the father of Whawhakia this place was called 'Te Taukaka o Ruateatea.'

The name Kereru

The name Kereru originated from a specific event regarding the tangihanga of Pakaraka the husband of Whawhakia. When this Rangatira died, his remains were placed on a atamira or 'wharerangi' and highly decorated with feathers. This was a reflection on the area that both Whawhakia and Pakaraka resided in that was heavily populated with the Kereru piegon, hence the feathers that covered the remains of Pakaraka were that of the Kereru. 

Therefore as a tribute to this sacred event the name bequeathed to the grandson of Whawhakia was Kereru Tarawhiti I, the son of Kotiporo and Kaiawhi. 

Kereru married Kuiaarangi (a hapu of Whawhakia) and had a son Takatu.  Takatu and Te Hinu had a son named Kereru II.  This was the Kereru that fought at the battle of Matakitaki against the forces of Hongi Hika and Ngapuhi.

Kereru II married Hariata and had two sons:

  • the first son was named"Kereru III" in succession to his great grandfather Kereru I;
  • the second son was named "Te Tarawhiti" in succession to the surname of his Great grandfather.

These two were later to be known as Heta Kereru Tarawhiti and Henare Te Tarawhiti one resided in Waikato the other resided in Taranaki. This was how the two branches of the whanau began.

 
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Page last updated 17 Sep 2008