Te Ahuru Te Rangiwerohia

Te Ahuru was the leader of the lower Whangaehu River people during the latter part of the 1800's. Linked to Ngati Rangiwhakaturia, Ngati Paenga, Ngati Moeawatea and Ngati Ruahau among others Te Ahuru was closely related to Aperahama Tipae whom he supported and then succeeded.

The grandson of Te Ahuru was our koro, Tukotahi Wuunu also known as Uru Te Angina or Sam Woon.

It is clear from Maori Land Court evidence from the nineteenth century that Te Ahuru was a knowledgeable and strong leader who was the overseer for many customary food gathering areas including numerous eel weirs, other kai gathering areas in the bush as well as cultivations throughout the lower Whangaehu.

Such was his status that he was bestowed with the roll of upholding the boundaries of the tribe which along with his extensive knowledge of such sites underpinned the assertions he made to neighbouring iwi and hapu.

The matter of tribal boundaries was very significant in the 1830's. Subsequent to the battle at Kohurupo where the great Whanganui Chief, Takarangi Atua was killed, many Ngati Apa hapu resident in Whangaehu and the Turakina Rivers decided to take up a defensive position at Parewanui with their other relations on the Rangitikei River. They took up this position for fear of reprisals from the Whanganui Iwi. This did manifest itself in the form of Whanganui leaders such as Pehi Turoa, Topine Te Mamaku and Kurukaanga occupying parts of the Whangaehu, Mangawhero and Turakina. On each occasion messages were sent for them to go back to Whanganui and they consequently did so.

However in one instance Pehi Turoa did return to the Whangaehu River to find a totara log that was susequently fashioned into a waka and gifted to Maiawhea, the mother of Te Ahuru. According to Wirihana Hunia that 'When Te Hakeke heard he told Turangapito to send a message by Hone Pihama (who was accompanied by Ruruhira) to tell Pehi to "Stop straining his legs on the Whangaehu and Turakina". Pehi accepted this and once he completed the canoe he gave it to Wunu's mother.'(Wirihana Hunia WH17,p.80)

It is within this background that Te Ahuru plays a major part with Tipae in upholding the boundary with Whanganui Iwi when the Whanganui Transaction of 1848 is being discussed. Te Wunu, Aperahama Tipae and Te Munu set the boundary at the inland section with the seaward section being left to their close relatives Ihakara Te Rangiahua, Hapeta Pitimou, Utiki Te Uawhakataki and others.

Te Ahuru would also have been involved in the agreement for the tribal boundary at Motu Karaka through to Te Rerenga. The son of Te Ahuru, Te Hunga O Te Rangi was known to have erected a pou at Te Rerenga in order for this marker to be known.

Signifcantly as part of the discussions with Donald McLean, the Crown Agent for the Whanganui Transaction, the Ngati Apa interests north of the Whangaehu River were�outlined by Te Ahuru. A petition to the Government in 1987, stated that a reserve called Omanaia�No.�5 was pointed out by Te Wunu Te Rangiwerohia in the year 1849 to Sir Donald McLean who was at this time Land Purchase Commissioner for the government to be reserved to him as a mark vesting the eel lakes at Rotokawau, Rotoputa, Paeroa, Paure, Whitiora, Pukie and Mangakahia in Te Wunu to which Sir Donald McLean agreed. (MA 13/81 Petition of Ihakara Rangiahua and five others to the speaker, 17 Oct.1887).

It is uncanny that we still face these challenges today with the work carried out by our tupuna such as Te Ahuru, providing a steer for our current day leadership to utilise in our discussions with the Crown and in another sense with Whanganui Iwi.

We are also thankful that a portrait by Gottfried Lindaur of Te Ahuru remains in the possesion of his descendants for all of us to ensure that the memories of such significant ancestors are kept alive.

Reference: Te Tapikitanga O Apa, Paenga-whawha - 2006 Issue No.9