Makoare Te Taonui

Makoare Te Taonui (–1862) was a Māori rangatira (chief) of the Ngāpuhi iwi (tribe).

Family Makoare Te Taonui was born into the Te Popoto hapū (subtribe) of the Ngāpuhi iwi. His father was Hautai and his grandfather was Te Aokaitū. He had an older brother called Muriwai, a prominent Te Popoto chief, and another brother called Te Huru. After Muriwai's death in early 1828, Taonui become the hapū's chief. He had two wives, Katuku, and Hinuata of Ngāti Rēhia, with whom he had a son, Tautoru, who would later be known as Aperahama Taonui. His father-in-law was Te Wharemaru and his brother-in-law was Haimona Pita Matangi.

Meeting with Samuel Marsden In September 1819, Taonui met the missionary Samuel Marsden at Utakura, inland from the Hokianga Harbour, who pronounced him "a very well informed man." In March 1820, Marsden returned and Taonui accompanied him on the HMS Dromedary. Taonui also visited Sydney, where he was thought to have worked his passage on the brig Governor Macquarie. His baptismal name, Makoare, was a transliteration of Macquarie.

Flagstaff War During the Flagstaff War, Makoare Te Taonui fought alongside the British and Tāmati Wāka Nene against Hōne Heke. Throughout the war, Taonui and his tribe fought with distinction; his brother Te Huru was killed and his son Aperahama was severely wounded. When British troops arrived to fight against Heke, Nene went to welcome them at Russell and Taonui was left to contain the rebels at Lake Ōmāpere. At the Battle of Ruapekapeka, Taonui was given an independent command by Governor George Grey and was sent to Hikurangi with a contingent of 400 men in an effort to stop Heke from joining forces with Te Ruki Kawiti.

Death Makoare Te Taonui died in September 1862 and was buried at Williams Memorial Church, Paihia.