Te Morenga

He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene

On 28 October 1835 at the Waitangi residence of James Busby, 34 chiefs signed He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene (known in English as the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand). By 1839, 18 more chiefs had signed He Whakaputanga, which was acknowledged by the British government. This biography of one of the signatories was originally written for the He Tohu exhibition.


Signing details

Signature number: 
47
Signed as: 
Timorenga
Probable name: 
Te Morenga
Iwi/Hapū: 
Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Te Uri Kāpana, Ngare Hauata
1835 residence: 
Ōhaeawai
Tohu (signature): 

Te Morenga, the son of Whāingaroa, was a leading rangatira of significant mana based in the fertile Taiāmai district. Both a rival and an ally of Hongi Hika, he led numerous taua throughout the early 1800s and was a distinguished military leader.

With the arrival of missionaries, Te Morenga became a close friend of and guide for Samuel Marsden, who wrote: 'Te Morenga’s distinction is outstanding even among his great contemporaries.' [1] He accompanied Marsden on his journeys to the Hauraki Gulf, and also travelled with him to Sydney. The desire for access to European trade through the missionaries sometimes led to differences with Hongi Hika, but by the 1820s they were allies at battles such as Te Ika-a-Ranganui in 1825.

Te Morenga was one of 13 rangatira to sign the 1831 letter to King William IV, and is said to have joined Tītore’s taua to Tauranga in 1833. According to some accounts, his health was failing at this time and he died in 1834, which suggests it may have been his son, Kihiringi Te Morenga, who signed He Whakaputanga in his name on 12 July 1837. Others say Te Morenga signed himself.

[1]  ‘Te Morenga’, from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, ed. A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

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Anonymous

Posted: 03 Feb 2023

I am a direct descendent of Te Morenga. Many decades of research by my Aunt Marie Mc Donald, Nee Nepia, and before her, my uncle the late James Nepia has exposed many who may have appropriated the surname,although Haare Nepia Temorenga had two wives only my Great grandfather Puhipi Nepia was acknowledged as his son,to his second wife, Mereana ,who was a daughter of Tawhiao .To Suggest no image survives of My GGgrandfather is untrue. There is a very clear photo held in the Auckland war memorial museum where he is seen in his feathered cloak holding a Greenstone Mere. The cloak is also in the collection ,along with his Sons photo,My Great grandfather Puhipi Nepia, Who can also be seen holding the mere. The latter image would have been made around 1900to 1914. Puhipi Passed away in 1934 at his home,at Mamaranui marae.
Haare nepia TeMorenga was interred at Ahipara ,on the mountain. His remains were dug up sometime in the later 19th Century and placed somewhere else. His Monument was toppled over at this time for reasons unknown. In the early 1970's,many of my uncles and aunts were still alive so a special ceremony was held to reinstate the monument to a clever and brave Warrior who took steps to reconcile with Tawhiao, a former adversary. Thus his marriage to Mereana.
If anyone cares,threy can make the trek up the mountain and read the inscription on the monument.

Robert king

Posted: 25 Feb 2022

HAARE NEPIA TE MORENGA WAS THE SON OF MARINO, double checked our whakapapa

Robert king

Posted: 25 Feb 2022

his name is KIRIHINI TE MORENGA who is buried in our urupa in ahiparapara, WE are the descendants of KIRIHINI

Anonymous

Posted: 29 Sep 2020

this portrait is not te morenga-it is riwhi taramoeroa.there are no images of te morenga only his unfinished moko.

Jared Davidson

Posted: 07 May 2019

Kia ora, thank you for your comment. The identity of this rangatira has always been hard to confirm, and it does appear a mix of information has been joined into one entry. Any further information to help update this entry would be very much appreciated.

Ngā mihi,
Jared Davidson

Anonymous

Posted: 03 May 2019

Two different people?
1. Te Morenga of Taiamai (Te Uri Kapana, Ngare Hauata) b. ~1760. d. 1834. Son of Whaingaroa. Travelled with Marsden, voted on United Tribes flag, signed letter to King William IV.

2. (Haare Nepia) Te Morenga of Wainui/Ahipara (Te Rarawa, Ngati Moetonga) b. ~1780. d. 1875. Son of Wharewhare (Ngati Kahu) and Ngamotu (Te Rarawa). Signed He Whakaputanga, had a son Te Kihiringi.