Waikato leaders Te Moanaroa and Te Awaitaia

Kia ora....I'm a descendant of Katerina te Ana Moanaroa who married David McNeish. Offspring of their daughter Susan and her son Robert. Am now wanting to whakapapa back further....I'll read more :)

Kia Ora tatou. I am another great great great granddaughter of Te Moanaroa. My mother is Ritihia, youngest daughter of Rapana Moanaroa aka Koro Nai. Really nice to read other whanau comments and I see Aunty Maata posted too. I’m based in Otautahi. Kia mau kia ita kia kore ai e ngaro., na reira waiho i te toipoto kaua i te toiroa

In researching Tupuna Moanaroa, It was known he had many wives, so far I can account for 3 wives. Rangiwhakakino, Kiwia, not Kiwie, Purekatia. The first two, come into my whakapapa Te Akau, Whaingaroa, Tahinga/Koata line, Purekatia is not mentioned. Found information about her on Ancestry, Google & one Church search. I cannot actually find a whakapapa linking Purekatia to me, or vice versa. I have been researching Tupuna Moanaroa since my Dad died. His personal effects were left to me in his Will. I know what I was taught, he taught me from a child, what I should and shouldnt know. But in knowing this, I hope I do find a link to Purekatia on my journey. Not being nasty in any way, it was mentioned she was Ngati Maniapoto. My Koro was Maniapoto tuturu, Not Ngati. Hevis buried in Waingaro. Married a Tamainupo/Mahanga woman. So Purekatia might be on my Maniapoto ki Waingaro or Tuwharetoa line. I am Moanaroa on my Nanas side, Dads mother.

In researching Tupuna Moanaroa, It was known he had many wives, so far I can account for 3 wives. Rangiwhakakino, Kiwia, not Kiwie, Purekatia. The first two, come into my whakapapa Te Akau, Whaingaroa, Tahinga/Koata line, Purekatia is not mentioned. Found information about her on Ancestry, Google & one Church search. I cannot actually find a whakapapa linking Purekatia to me, or vice versa. I have been researching Tupuna Moanaroa since my Dad died. His personal effects were left to me in his Will. I know what I was taught, he taught me from a child, what I should and shouldnt know. But in knowing this, I hope I do find a link to Purekatia on my journey. Not being nasty in any way, it was mentioned she was Ngati Maniapoto. My Koro was Maniapoto tuturu, Not Ngati. Hevis buried in Waingaro. Married a Tamainupo/Mahanga woman. So Purekatia might be on my Maniapoto ki Waingaro or Tuwharetoa line. I am Moanaroa on my Nanas side, Dads mother.

Since moving back to live in Whaingaroa, I discovered that David McNeish was buried over Te Horea. Now comes my search for other whanau. Very interesting.

Avice, tena koe. On your Haimona side is also my mothers. Her dad was Te Moa Haimona, (Jim Simon) his father was Hohua Haimona, brother of Para Haimona. My grandfather is buried on Pukerewa.

Could anyone of our relatives tell me where Te Ani is buried?. I was informed many years ago that David McNish was buried over Horea.

Kia ora Brett - if you zoom in on the you will see his name is written under his image. See: http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE326941&dps_custom_att_1=tapuhi

I don't think Te Awa-i-taia would have been crouching, cowering subserviantly beside another chief, he had more Mana than that. This is after reading and studying his life. Has anyone verified this painting as being Te Awa-i-taia. I hope this can help a bit, I just hope this great man is not trivialised. I suppose it doesn't matter much really as it was all a long time ago

Ae, Moanaroa - Son of Tapatai aka. Punatoto. At the time of this painting, Te Awaitaia was the ruling chief of the Whaingaroa area, Whaingaroa having conquered by Ngati Mahanga from its previous owners (Ngati Koata, Ngati Toa, and some parts of Ngati Tahinga). This was known as the Battle of Huripopo, and was led by Tapatai, Father of Moanaroa. Uncontested and supreme. And as the contributor named "Ngati Hourua" has said there is much to be said in the way they are painted. Awaitaia was a war lord, but from a junior line, who rose to greatness by force of character, when they finally expelled Te Rauparaha and others from the west coast. Whereas Moanaroa was from the very senior line of Ngati Mahanga; and him crouching is an acknowledgement that as far as "tuakanatanga" goes, Moanaroa is the Senior/tuakana.

It is not uncommon to have multiple persons with the same name as well. However this Moanaroa, standing in a superior position to Awaitaia, is obviously the son of Tapatai ! Else the crouch would never have happened. Seriously, a chief will not lower himself for anything, unless the tuakanatanga is there.