Te Horeta

Te Horetā Te Taniwha ( – 21 November 1853) was a notable Māori tribal leader of the Ngati Whanaunga iwi, noted for his compassion. Many of his military victories were "won by his prowess, his courage being of a very daring character".

Heritage

It was said he was a direct descendant of Whanaunga, the third son of Marutūāhu, who was the son of Hotunui, one of the leading chiefs of the Tainui.

Warrior and chief

In November 1769, as a young boy of 10, he witnessed HMS Endeavour, captained by James Cook, arrive in Mercury Bay.

Nicknamed Hook-Nose, Te Horetā knew famed chief Tāraia Ngākuti Te Tumuhuia (d. 1872) of the Thames district. In 1842 following a raid on the Ngāi Te Rangi iwi of Tauranga, Tumuhuia sent a basket of human flesh from captured slaves as a present to Te Horetā, who declined, saying he had "given up such dark practices" of cannibalism.

In October 1852, "Old Hooknose" and thirty Māori encountered Charles Ring (1832–1906) and his brother Frederick gold-prospecting around the Coromandel district, and demanded utu (payment) for the tapu (sacred) land intrusion. After a parley, Te Horetā concluded with "I think these are good men. We will let them go". The Ring brothers were allowed to continue finding gold in the district.

Te Horetā was renown for his recall of poetry of the country, his "vast legendary stores of knowledge" which was also used to provide requested counsel in other districts, and great skills of oration.

About six weeks before his death, Te Horetā was baptised into the Church of England by Reverend Thomas Lanfear. Tukumana Te Taniwha was Te Horetā's grandson.