THE CHIEF TE WETINI TAIPORUTU.

Aotearoa, or the Maori Recorder, Volume 1, Issue 2, 1 January 1862, Page 3

THE CHIEF TE WETINI TAIPORUTU.

Te Wetini Taiporutu was a leading chieftain of the Ngatihaua, being a nephew of the great Waharoa, father of William Thomson Tarapipipi, who, says the author of “ The Maori King Movement,” is “remarkable for his intelligence, his desire for self improvement, and his love of peace;” it is added that “ his dignified carriage marks him out as one of nature’s nobles.”/ Hanu, the father of Taiporutu, was a chief of the Ngatiwhanaunga of Coromandel, and a blood relation of the celebrated Hooknose, with whom he resided for some years, and periodically visited after his permanent settlement among the Waikatos. „ - At the great meetings held in the Waikato country from time to time, the oratorical powers of Te Wetini were brought into play, on which occasions his 'burning sarcasms and patriotic zeal elicited the warm plaudits of his auditors. He was an ardent admirer of Potatau, and an energetic advocate of the great land league or king movement. To the European settlers he was courteous, manifesting in his transactions with them a desire to please. ■ “ I knew Taiporutu well,” says an old Coromandel settler, “he used to visit my station in company with Hooknose. I traded with him; he also worked for me, and I found him to be both honest and straightforward. He was very friendly to the white people, and was much respected by them” Eangiherehere, Te Wetini’s mother, had another son by her first husband, Hanu, named Paora Te Ahum, who headed one of the divisions which at-" tacked the redoubt at Taranaki, and who, on that memorable occasion, received a bullet wound in the neck and- a bayonet wound .in the side; . he, however, succeeded, after three of his firelocks had become useless, in wrenching a rifle from a British soldier; with it, and the bayonet in his body, he withdrew, exhibiting them as trophies of his heroic daring. In November,. 1860, Te Wetini, with a number of followers, proceeded to Taranaki. On reaching the scene of hostilities he-encamped with his little band, numbering about 100, where he was attacked by an army of 1000 under Genera,! Pratt, December, 1860. After “ two hours fighting” he was discomfited and slain, thirty-seven of his chivalrous host perishing with him. Thus ended the earthly career of the far famed Waikato Chieftain Te Wetini Taiporutu, who was honorably mentioned by the Commander-in-, Chief of our Forces as “ the Prime Minister of the Maori King.” ; It is a singular coincidence that Hanu and Te Wetini, father and son, fell in battle at Taranaki, the former fighting against the Ngatiawa and the latter with them.