Taikatu Road, Otakeho
Set deep in the realms of South Taranaki is a particular area known as Otakeho ( The place of Takeho). Takeho was a descendant of Kahu. This sacred and noble area is occupied by the NgaRuahinerangi Tribe a notorious fighting tribe associated with the Warrior Chief Titokowaru. It was said that Titokowaru was born in this area at a place called Taikatu-ki-tai. The hapu that dwells in this area of Taikatu ,Otakeho is called Ngati Haua believed to have derived its name from a tupuna called Haua-piko. This tupuna Haua-piko was a twin of Haua-roa of Taumaranui. Both twins belonged to Te Ahuroa( father) and Te Taura Whiri a Hinengakau.
During the tribal wars, this area of Otakeho was engaged in constant warfare with the Waikato Federation. However much later during the Maori Land Wars this area was to produce a famous fighting warrior equal to many of the best fighters in Aotearoa, this was Titokowaru III his father was present at the battle of Nga-ngutu-Maioro at the mouth of the Kapuni River when Taranaki defeated Waikato at Orangituapeka and the surrender of Te Wherowhero.
Titokowaru III was a man of wairua and agility he followed and provided support to the two prophets in Parihaka called Tohu Kakahi and Te Whiti o Rongomai, most of his iwi of Ngaruahinerangi joined the prophets at Parihaka and their stance with the Rongopai. Their were many breaches by the Government and this forced Titokowaru to go to war of which he proved to be one of the best War strategist equal to Te Wherowhero and Te Rauparaha.
One of the main strongholds of Titokowaru was called " Taikatu" there were three fighting Pa, in close range of each other they were Omuturangi, Te Auroa and Taikatu.
The name of the pa at Taikatu was called "Tuhirangi" there were 30 whare and the leader or the spokesperson at that time was Henare Tarawhiti or Te Tarawhiti. This tupuna was one of the 12 or Te Kaumarua that was sent to Taranaki from Waikato in 1867. Henare Tarawhiti unlike his brother Heta Tarawhiti was a ploughman around the Taikatu district, he was constantly arrested and placed before the Judge on charges of "non-compliance" . Henare Tarawhiti would dismantle fences and plough farms that belonged to his people, those all these farms were confiscated in the end, Henare continued to plough and was arrested, however the Judge and the Court never convicted Henare Tarawhiti because of the troubles that were happening at the period at Parihaka. On one occassion Henare Tarawhiti was visiting New Plymouth and was at the train station, when he was noticed and placed under arrest on suspicion of supporting the rebels, he was released under the condition that was to leave New Plymouth immediately and return directly to Otakeho. Henare Tarawhiti resided all his life on Taikatu Road most of those that stayed in the 30 whare's were his descendants. It was close by that Henare Tarawhiti dictated the list of names to McDonnell of those that should be in the Ngati Haua Block the name of this palce was called "Tiwhaiti". Most of the land or blocks in Omuturangi were owned by Henare. But the land was derived to Henare from his wife Ngawai who was infact the original land owner.
Taikatu road was a very spiritual place where many Kuia and Koroua stayed most of the kuia that resided on Taikatu were adorned with the "kauae moko" they were either followers of Te Whiti and Tohu or loyal to Titokowaru the fighting Chief.Those kuia that stayed on Taikatu road at that time up to the fifties were;
1. Ngawai Maata
2. Hine Rauwha
3. Rangimaimaiao
4. Materoa
5. Puarauehu
6. Peti Te Hukinga
7. Hinekohu.
8. Te Ao Marama.
Taikatu Road was the place of the old Pa and immediately across the roasd from the Pa lived one of his sons that remained loyal to his fathers land occupation, the name of this son was Nuku Tipene Tarawhiti.
Page last updated 20 Jan 2009
