Taraia Ngakuti Te Tumuhuia

Photograph of Tāraia Ngākuti Te Tumuhuia, with moko tattoos and taiaha staff. Tāraia Ngākuti Te Tumuhuia (also known as Taraia Ngakuti; died 13 March 1872) was a notable New Zealand Māori warrior and tribal leader of the Ngāti Maru and the Ngāti Tamaterā iwi, in power from the 1820s. He may have been as old as almost one century.

Refusing Christianity or to adopt a European lifestyle, it is reported Tumuhuia was also part of the last cannibal feast in 1842. (His cannibalism was well-known, with one likely tall tale indicating in his hey-day, he liked a favourite breakfast of a "nice fat child, giving preference to the female sex". )

Warrior chief

It was suggested the family tree was a long lineage of chiefs and warriors, to one who arrived by the Tainui canoe. Tumuhuia's father was Kaharunga, and mother, Rewa. It was given that the Māori of Tauranga had eaten his mother which led to his long-standing grievance towards that group.

A strong warrior "of dreadful reputation", he had fought alongside Rauparaha and other chiefs against groups as far as Kaiapoi and Akaroa on the South Isle, and despite the presence of Europeans and their laws, he was of the kai-tangata breed

He was involved in a siege around the Puke-karora pā in 1824, and took the life of chief Pōmare in May 1826.

One of the two rangatira who refused to sign the Treaty of Waitangi in May 1840, Tumuhuia sought to continue using force to resolve issues as required, which he did in 1842 when killing senior members of the Ngāi Te Rangi iwi of Tauranga, at Ongare Point. whereby Tumuhuia admitted to the killings, stating it was as his people had done over the generations, and it did not involve the Europeans. His actions resulted in the view "Maori were British subjects, whether or not they had signed the Treaty".

September 1864 saw Tumuhuia working with another Māori chief William Thompson over Penetaka's native rebellion within Tauranga district.

May 1868 saw Governor George Bowen visit the Thames River area and meet with "Taraia Ngakuti", "the celebrated aged chief of the Ngatitamateri tribe", who welcomed the Governor in the presence of a number of other influential chiefs.

Land titles

The 1850s gold discovery and mining resulted in land disputes for Tumuhuia. Concerns of hostility by Tumuhuia around Tauranga were still raised in 1864, including the threatening of surveyors. The iwi received compensation in September 1866 for relinquishing claim over Tauranga lands between Katikati and Te Puna, for £500, and Tumuhuia himself for other £100 claims. December 1868 saw Tumuhuia sign another agreement to cede lands to the government for gold-mining purposes, to a deposit of £1500 in the Ohinemuri area. Attempts in 1865 by the government to pressure Tumuhuia and Te Hira to open up the Thames area to gold mining were unsuccessful – it was even requested to "bring down" the chiefs:

Of the former of these chiefs [Taraia] I do not think I need say anything. He is well known as being most astute and most untrustworthy, and his exploits in cannibalism some years ago are not likely to be forgotten by the older settlers. Te Hira, although not so well known, is a man of a very dangerous character.

(It appears Tumuhuia was in favour but restrained by Te Hira. In October 1868, Te Hira was definitely a "Kingite", who desired to keep out the gold diggers, while Tumuhuia was a "Queenite" who wished to lease the lands to the government; although interestingly it was stated after Tumuhuia's death seven years later, the local Māori supported the "opening [of] the district for gold mining purposes", as if Te Hira was in favour and Tumuhuia had been blocking the deal. The division was in Te Hira's ranks. After Tumuhuia's death, Te Hira and his cousin, Maori chieftainess Mere Kuru Te Kate (d. Aug 1905), "the dour old diehard", commanded the iwi. )

Later years

Tumuhuia favoured the Māori King movement.

Tumuhuia was given to have a son, Te Kereihi. His daughter was Meretitiha Tara. Tumuhuia's grandson Tei (and the nephew of Te Hira) died from consumption on 25 November 1867, and Tumuhuia's wife Peata died after a long illness on 1 December 1867, aged .

It was reported Tumuhuia remained friends with the European settlers as noted by Governor Thomas Browne, and was in receipt of a pension in later years. One newspaper preemptively reported in June 1870 that "the great chief of the Thames" "had made up his mind that he would die last night", acknowledging Tumuhuia was one of the last of the Māori of his status. Estimated to be "probably nearly 100 years" old, he had been spending his days "at Butt's Corner, sitting in the sun, looking on at the busy life of the Europeans, which had changed the very face of the land where he had formerly reigned with more than royal power".

At the time of his death on the morning of Wednesday, 13 March 1872 at Thames, (It is suggested that Tumuhuia did not see Cook as he would not have been yet born, being about fifteen years younger than Te Horetā who was born and had met Cook in November 1769 in Mercury Bay aged about twelve.) Haora Tareranui, considered "a leader of the race" and estimated to be nearly 90 years-of-age, died in August 1932 at his permanent residence at Paeroa. It was his efforts in 1875 that arranged the peace settlement between the Waikato and Marutūāhu iwi. Later he was part of the select advisory council of the third Māori king, Mahuta Tāwhiao. An equivalent of a bishop within the Rātana church, converting after being affected by and cured of rheumatism, he was survived by his wife Rangirumaki Pereniki née Tizard.