Te Roro o Te Rangi
Brief history of the person
Te Roro o Te Rangi lived around the 1750's.
He was one of a number of warrior chiefs of his time.
He had at least four names:
- Te Roro o te rangi - entrance way to the universe
- Te Kopu rere ata - leader, guiding star (Venus)
- Te Waha kai kapua - refers to his authority
- Te Tuhi o te rangi - like lightning leaves an impression on the sky, so did he on the earth
At Maketu his uncles Taiwere and Moekaha, as well as his father Ariariterangi, were killed respectively in each of the first three battles between Te Arawa and Ngaiterangi. Te Roro gathered together another war party which defeated Ngaiterangi. Peace was sealed with gifts (Kaitangata - te mere pounamu, Te Ngako - te whakakai, etc) and intermarriage.
Te Roro met his end at the hands of Tamamutu from Ngati Tuwharetoa. The battle was at Tawharakurupeti at Motutara (Govt Gardens). He was captured and taken to Taupo. It is said that Te Roro died in Umukuri, the famous oven at Rotongaio. Upon his death his head was placed in a Kowhai tree. Our whanau took the name in remembrance of this event.
Te Ngako, a pendant, was kept as utu by Tamamutu
Page last updated 18 Jun 2008
