Mauruuru Pango / Pango Mauruuru TarawhitiThe subject of this biography was known by many aliases such as Manuruuru also known as Mauruuruu or Maururu, Te Maururu Pango, Mauruuru Pango, Te Maururu Pango Te Tarawhiti this kuia has two different lineage. One lineage we can confirm, the other still requires more research. The connection to Waikato and Taranaki is certain, but there is a claim that this kuia has tribal connections to two other tribes called Ngai Tuhoe and Ngati Ruapani.
Mauruuru derived her name from her Grandmother also called Mauruuru , our Mauruuru according to the records of the Mormon church is that she was born in 1852 at a place called Otakeho, South Taranaki. The place where she is born is consistent with her other siblings and kinsmen that were also living in the same place, most of her nieces and nephews were born at a place called Taikatu which is the heart of Otakeho. However the birth date is speculative. Mauruuru lived most of her life with her children amongst her hapu called Ngati Haua until her death in 1917 on Hastings road, Normanby, South Taranaki.
In 1907 a succession hearing was held before the Maori Land Court regarding the land interests and shares of a deceased person named Waitara. These shares were being succeeded to Mauruuru's brother Henare Tarawhiti and sister Pinikera Rangitamoana. Both were awarded land in a block called Ngati Haua. it was mentioned during the hearing that Mauruuru and their other sister Kaaro did not receive any land, therefore it was agreed by all her siblings and whanaunga that Mauruuru and the children of Kaaro were to be awarded 15 acres in a block located around the Normanby area called "Te Rua-o-te-moko". This explained why Mauruuru and Robert stayed on Hastings Road to farm their land. In 1908 Mauruuru was registered on the NZ Maori Voters Roll her listed tribes being Ngati Ruanui, Ngaruahine and her hapu was Ngati Haua. Her address at that time was Taikatu road, Otakeho. Many other family members of Mauruuru were also listed on the roll of 1908. The 1919 NZ Maori voters roll listed the son of her brother Henare Tarawhiti a nephew named Nuku Tipene Tarawhiti the only difference was that his tribe was listed as Waikato, but his address was the same as Mauruuru that clearly explains that Mauruuru was connected to Waikato.
In 1915 Henare Tarawhiti gave evidence in the Maori land Court that he had dictated to Remmel a Government officer the list of people entitled to land shares in a block called Ngati Haua, located on Omuturangi, Taikatu and Auroa road, he specifically stipulated in accordance to the minutes that he had placed one of his sisters in this block and that he had left one of his sisters out only because she was residing in Waikato. My research shows that the one placed in the block was Mauruuru and the one left out was Kaaro. This is evident from the list of owners that showed the names of the children of Mauruuru and Kaaro. Kaaro was given shares in another block called Te Rua-o-te-moko which included Mauruuru. This was also evident through the names of both their children on the list of owners. Both sisters Rangitamoana and Kaaro married men from Ngati Whawhakia - a hapu of Waikato - and went to Waikato with their husbands. The only one to return was Rangitamoana and her husband Wetere Te Paki. Both resided on Auroa Road (the road next to Taikatu road).
Robert Kershaw
The husband of Mauruuru was Robert Edward Kershaw from Yorkshire, England. He was sent to New Zealand during the Maori Land Wars and held the rank of Assistant Lieutenant in the British Navy. He was reputed to have been the bugleman for his company. In earlier years, when he first came to New Zealand, his actual name was Kirby or Kirkby, and was also known as Kirkwood. On the 2nd March,1899 the address for a Robert Kershaw was Tempsky Road, Okaiawa, Taranaki.
Whilst Kirby was in New Zealand his ship docked at a port in New Plymouth. The only ship in port during the land wars in Taranaki was the HMS Victoria. When Kirby was on shore leave it was said that he returned back to port and discovered that his ship had sailed. This caused major alarm for him personally because he would then be classified as a ‘deserter'. He then made a conscious decision to change his name to avoid arrest and face imprisonment for desertion. He exchanged his original name Kirby with the name Robert Kershaw who was a person listed on the ship and registered with the Naval ratings.
While Robert was in Taranaki he rejoined another military regiment with his new name. During one of his expeditions he was discovered by Hauhau rebels. this may have been at the battle of Te Ngutu-o-te-manu where Robert was wounded. The chief of the ‘taua' at that time was "Tarawhiti". Tarawhiti offered Robert a choice to either try and return back to where he came from or die. His life, however, was spared because of his experience in war and the advantage this could give the tribe in combat. He then lived and remained amongst the Maori until one day as he was playing his bugle, it immediately attracted the attention of his captors. Tarawhiti was fascinated with this instrument and asked to be taught how to play the bugle. It was at this point he then met Mauruuru the sister of the chief (The Mormon records have Mauruuru as the daughter of Tarawhiti).
Eventually Robert Kershaw married Mauruuru and they both continued to live at one of the strong holds of Titokowaru, a Pa called Taikatu. Robert and Mauruuru continued to live there until they both shifted to Hastings Road, Normanby, where Robert died in 1919. This version is accredited to Mr. Tom Kershaw from Temple View, Hamilton. This oral information was imparted to him from Uncle Tawhi (Mutu)Tamou the Grandson of Mauruuru and Robert Kershaw. There are two versions according to the Mormon records - Mauruuru was a daughter to Te Tarawhiti (Henare Tarawhiti) and that she was born in 1852 which would be more accurate. However, according to the Maori Land Court records Mauruuru was a sister to Henare Tarawhiti and that a more comprehensive whakapapa was also given by her closest relatives (Taranaki MB 11 Page 20).
All that we have left of the life of this tupuna is her amazing whakapapa that joins our whanau to other families from Huntly, Rotorua and the East coast from Ruatoria, Tolaga Bay to Napier and Waimarama in the Hawkes Bay. There has also been some confusion over her middle name or alias, Pango. One of the children of Mauruuru and Robert Kershaw was " Tamou Kershaw " - the descendants of this Koroua have taken both his christian name and surname as their surname. We therefore have two families; one family called the Tamou whanau from Taranaki and the Kershaw whanau from Taranaki and the Tai Rawhiti.
The Kershaw whanau claims that the descendancy of Mauruuruu is linked to Ngati Ruapani, Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Porou. On Saturday 20th April 2002 I received an email from Tame Nikora, a member of the Tuhoe Maori Trust Board. He enclosed a whakapapa of a "Pango Manuruuruu" who was the same Mauruuru as our kuia who was married to Robert Kershaw - but there is nothing more to substantiate that this is indeed her? Despite Tama's authenticity of "whanaungatanga" to Mauruuru, we have no other concrete or actual proof that supports Tama Nikora's claim, only his theoretical version. However we have ample evidence that originates from the Maori Land Court records which includes evidence given by Mauruuru herself of two distinct whakapapa which is Waikato and Taranaki.
Therefore I submit that the evidence from the Tarawhiti whanau is conclusive and absolute and that there is not enough evidence to substanciate a claim to Tuhoe. Therefore I am inclined to maintain the Tainui link as the main line of descent.
Mauruuru bequeathed names on her children derived directly from Waikato for example Mauruuru named her first born (Mataamua), Eruera Matewhitu. This name was taken from Eruera Matewhitu a Rangatira from Waikato his hapu was Te Ngaungau also known as Ngati Whawhakia and he resided at Puketotaara and died 26 January 1878. He was regarded as a "tuakana " to Heta Tarawhiti during that year. Eruera Matewhitu was prominent during the era of Te Wherowhero and King Tawhiao, he was with Heta Tarawhiti the older brother to Mauruuru and Henare. When this Rangatira died in Waikato an obituary was submitted in the Maori newspaper from the daughter of Heta Tarawhiti called Mere Paama Tarawhiti. However the namesake had children that all reside around the Hastings province and mainly in Waimarama. He died at Waipiro Bay.
Whakapapa 1
Robert Kershaw (Kirby) = Mauruuru
1. Eruera Matewhitu Kershaw
2. Rangipuano Kershaw
3. Erena Kershaw
4. Tamou Kershaw
5. Nua Kershaw
6. Henare Mitai Kershaw
Eruera Matewhitu Kershaw = 1. Mere Hoka Tātere
1. Te Awhimate Kershaw = Te Rou Ngarangi Katitia Broughton
2. Rumatiki Kershaw = Tutamariki Teira Tiakitai
3. Mere Kershaw = Steven Ahipene Matthews
4. Raiha Te Rauiri Matewhitu Kershaw = Te Rangi Pumamao Mohi
5. Heni Materoa Kershaw = Tutepourangi Adam McDonald
Eruera Matewhitu Kershaw = 2. May Manauea Tutauha
6. Mabel Takotohuhi Manauea Tutauha Kershaw = Ivan John Ryder-Duzevich Dhu Jury Ataroa Tamihana Pere. Mere Hoka Tatere is the daughter of Haora Kurupo Tatere of Ngati Kurukuru of Waimarama and Keita Kereoma of Ngai Te Whatuiapiti of Hawkes bay she is at rest in Kairaakau. Haora was the youngest of Harawira Mahikai Tatere and Maata Maki. May Tutauha belong to the Taranaki tribe?
The nucleus of this whanau are residing down in Waimarama, they have been meeting on a regular basis with incredible ideas for the purpose of holding a whanau reunion next year in 2009 at Waimarama. This year witnessed the start of four Wananga, the first was held at Te Ara a Tawhaki in Hastings, in Labour weekend is the second of these Wananga to be hosted at Pariroa Pa in Patea,South Taranaki. The third will be held in Waikato the venue still to be advised and the fourth we are hoping to hold the last and final Wananga at Waikaremoana, before the Whanau Reunion in 2009 during the Christmas Break.The purpose of taking the korero to these specific areas is because of the history that is associated to these tupuna and the link that they have established with many many descendants around the motu and the world.
I wish to acknowledge the amazing hard work and research led by Jeremy MacLeod, he is the shining example of his tupuna and has contributed alot of his personal spare time and resources to the history of his whanau. He stands on the shoulders of those that are no longer with us and aluminates the new pathway for the whanau to pursue. He will be the guardian of our precious taonga and I have no doubt that his energy will be the motivation of others. This line of Mauruuru joins us as descendants and is a direct link through Te Tarawhiti to Te Kauri Marae.
Nga mihi aku karangatanga o Whawhakia ki te tonga o Takitimu, Nau mai nga uri whakaheke a Mauruuru Pango Tarawhiti ki te take o te maunga a Taupiri. Hoki wairua mai, hoki mai koutou ki nga purea e nga hau ki te tapuwae o Te Kauri.
Ahakoa e noho ana ki raro te ihi o Ngati Kurukuru ka tangi te putaatara a Kereru o te Ao Tawhito ki ona maramara. Pai Marire! | 
