IWI / HAPU AFFILIATIONS
Tarapipipi was the second son of Te Waharoa of Ngati Haua. His
mother was Rangi Te Wiwini. He was born at Tamahere, on the Horotiu
plains. Tamihana married Ita, daughter of Pohepohe of Matamata. She
died in May 1840 at Te Tapiri. Tamihana later married
Pare-te-Kanawa (also called Wikitoria), another daughter of
Pohepohe. They had at least three sons, Hotene, Tupu Tainga-kawa,
and Tana Tainga-kawa, and a daughter, Te Raumako (Te Reo).
Tarapipipi participated in the fighting expeditions of Ngāti Haua
and would eventually come under the influence of Christianity,
learning to read and write within six months of having access to
the written word.1
On 23 June 1839 Tarapipipi was baptised by Reverend A. N. Brown
at Tauranga. He was given the name Wiremu Tamihana (William
Thompson), and embarked on a life of teaching and preaching in the
Tauranga and Matamata districts. Tarapipipi put into practice the
Christian teachings he had embraced within a traditional Māori
framework, and guided his people to do likewise. The influence of
missionaries was important, but qualities of intellect, and
leadership, courage, eloquence and diplomacy, were of far greater
significance in the life of Wiremu Tamihana.2
He was a leading advocate for a Māori King movement and blessed
the first Māori King Te Wherowhero by placing his bible on his
head.3 His direct descendants
perform this ritual as seen at the coronation of Kingi Tuheitia in
2006. Tamihana is remembered as the Māori King Maker.
NM
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