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Contextual note


Below is an online version, from Nga Tupuna o Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Volume 2 (2003), of the biography for Te Wira Mangatuku, reproduced with the kind permission of his whānau.

"Te Wira Mangatuku". In Nga tupuna o Te Whanganui-a-Tara, volume 2. (2003)

Te Wira Mangatuku,
d. before 1867

Read in language


Te Wira Mangatuku belonged to Ngati Hamua and Te Matehou hapu of Te Ati Awa. His wife was Te Raro Te Ua who was related to Watarauihi. Watarauihi's wife was Ngakurae's sister. Mangatuku had three children. They were Tipene Te Raro (1832?-1892), Maraea Te Ua who was married to Wiremu Paki Hianga, d. 5th August 1900, of Ngati Raukawa, and Hone Ngaukaka.

In 1836 there was a migration from Wairarapa back to Te Whanganui-a-Tara which had been left seriously under populated by those who had gone to the Chatham Islands (Wharekauri). Firstly Moturoa came back and settled at Onehunga then Pipitea. Karaka Bay was known as Onehunga in pre-settlement days. Moturoa was followed by Mangatuku. When that party reached Pipitea, Te Puni arrived on the same day but it was Mangatuku's wife who with the help of some young men built a fence between their land and Te Puni's. Mangatuku signed the Treaty of Waitangi. Moturoa and others signed for Mangatuku and his son Tipene Te Raro on the Pipitea McCleverty agreement. It was Moturoa and Mangatuku together who sold 3 and ½ acres to Robert Tod near Pipitea Pa on the 4th January 1840. Tod was a South Australian businessman who arrived at Wellington on the Success with J.C. Crawford in 1839. After settling at Pipitea with Ngakurae and Watarauihi, this group of people lived for certain periods at Waiwhetu as well as Pipitea.

Mangatuku's son Tipene Te Raro claimed an interest in sections no. 7, 15 and 22 at Pipitea Pa and also in other Wellington reserves. Tipene also claimed an interest in the Araheke M Block (on the Waiwakaiho River), New Plymouth, through Mangatuku.

Mangatuku's son Tipene is buried with his wife Heni Tipene (1831?-1916) at Owhiti Cemetery at Seaview.

References:

  • OLC 1/906 Tod's claim p.52-3.
  • Taranaki MB no. 3, p.344
  • Wellington MB no. 1, p.259, 273
  • Wellington MB no. 1C, p.56
  • Wairarapa MB no. 1 p.23-34
  • A Summary history of the Wellington Tenths : 1839-1884. Wai 145 C1 p.37.
  • Adkin, G.L. The great harbour of Tara. Wellington : Whitcombe & Tombs, 1959.

Korero o te Wa I Raraunga I Rauemi I Te Whanganui a Tara I Whakapapa