Te Whareumu

Te Whareumu (? - 1828) was the Ariki and Warrior Chief of Ngati Manu, a tribe based in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand. Te Whareumu was the most important chief in the Kororakeka area in his day. He was a warrior chief of the highest mana in pre-european times and well respected by the early missionaries and traders, to whom he provided the greatest protection. Te Whareumu quickly realised the advantage of trading with the many ships visiting the Bay.

Family

Born in the late 18th century, possibly about 1770-80, into a high ranking family. Te Whareumu was the son of Te Arahi and Te Ruru. He was closely related to Kawiti and Whetoi (Pomare I) and related to most of the northern chiefs.

Te Whareumu assumed control of the tribe after the passing of Tara.

Also known as Uruti and 'King George'.

One of Te Whareumu's wives was Moehuri, daughter of Mohi Tawhai, an important chief of Te Mahurehure tribe.

Another wife was Whakakati, mother of Hori Kingi Tahua and at least 3 more children.

He also married the wife of Tara, who was called Mrs Go-Shore, a term brought about from her boarding the ships in the harbour and telling them to come ashore.

Te Ika-a-ranga-nui

Koriwhai of Ngapuhi, had been murdered by some members of the Ngati-Whatua and Ngati-Maru tribes. This murder bought back memories of the defeat that Ngapuhi had suffered at Moremonui. So Hongi Hika decided to help Te Whareumu, to whom Koriwhai was related, and at the same time use the opportunity to wipe out their warlike neighbours of the Kaipara. So Ngapuhi assembled under Hongi Hika 500 strong and after the usual haka, the taua (war party) proceeded by way of the Mangakahia Valley. With them was the Roroa chief, Te Hihi-o-tote who was related to Ngapuhi and to Ngati-Whatua. Te Hihi managed to stop Hongi Hika from destroying his relatives by presenting the warrior with a fine old mere (greenstone weapon). Hongi turned back and when Te Whareumu found out, he was very angry and immediately set out to sea with his own taua. He landed at Mangawhai with nearly 200 men and marched inland to confront the enemy. Meanwhile Hongi Hika had started out again with 300 warriors overland, within this party were many different chiefs of Ngapuhi, including Te Ahu, Patuone, Nene, Te Morenga and others.

The battle was fought in open land near a stream called Waimako, close to Kaiwaka.

The Ngapuhi taua, lead by Te Whareumu and Hongi Hika were armed with many muskets and Hongi must have looked impressive in his suit of armour, given to him by King George IV, on the other side of the field were the Ngati Whatua tribe and allies, numbering over a 1,000 men, though they lacked the firepower of the Ngapuhi combine.On spotting their rivals, the Ngati Whatua launched a full assault met by Te Whareumu and his tribe, the fighting was fierce and bloody and just when it looked like the superior numbers of Ngati Whatua would overwhelm them, in came Hongi Hika, the guns blazed unmercifully and Ngati Whatua retreated to the forest edge, but they were rallied again by an old chief and once more charged the Ngapuhi ranks, only to die in a rain of bullets. Then Te Whareumu and Hongi charged the Ngati Whatua lines and the slaughter commenced, the bodies of over 700 Ngati Whatua and their allies were spread all over the field and the remaining survivors fled for their lives, being chased all the way by members of Ngapuhi.The slaughter was so great that the Waimako stream ran red with blood and while Ngati Whatua suffered large losses, Ngapuhi also lost several chiefs including Te Ahu, Te Puhi, Hare Hongi (Hongi Hikas son). As the triumphant victors returned home they saw enemy heads stuck on posts by celebrating members and one captured woman was eaten at a certain point by members of Patuone and Nenes hapu, this was the last time those two participated in the eating of human flesh, such was the bloody nature of the time. Te Whareumu was well satisfied with his utu (revenge) but Hongi Hika went straight in to another fight with Ngati Pou at Whangaroa.

Death

Te Whareumu was killed in 1828, in the Waima district of the Hokianga, seeking utu (revenge) for the death of his relative Tiki, a son of Whetoi (aka Pomare I). The dispute involved Te Mahurehure, a tribe from South Hokianga and from which Te Whareumu's wife Mohuri was descended. This shows the complex nature of utu, when Tiki felt offended by the theft of some pigs by members of Te Mahurehure tribe, he went to their land seeking redress, in this case, sweet potatoes and was shot while removing them. When news of Tikis death reached the Bay of Islands, a large taua (war party) was immediately assembled, Whiria (aka Pomare II) and his party reached the Waima first and negoiated a deal, when Te Whareumu arrived he was most displeased and took to deriding the Waima tribal leaders, especially Muriwai. Things quickly turned ugly and in the ensuing chaos, Te Whareumu was shot twice. On seeing the mighty leader fall, Patuone and Nene from the Hokianga took up his body and made great lamentations. In normal Maori tradition his body was cleaned and the bones placed in a secret burial cave. Hongi Hika had prophecised Te Whareumu's death, when on his own death bed just two weeks earlier, Hongi said that Te Whareumu was shortly to follow.

Te Whareumu's death threw the whole area into a state of nervous tension as the other bay chiefs debated what revenge was required and the hapless missionaries tried valiantly to restore some kind of peace. Finally Patuone and others made peace with the Bay of Island tribes, with the assistance of the CMS missionaries.

Te Whareumu was survived by two of his wives and at least two children, a son, Hori Kingi Tahua and a daughter Kohu.

References

* Hongi Hika, Warrior Chief by D Urlich-Cloher
* The Bay of Islands by Jack Lee
* Hokianga by Jack Lee