Karena Te Whiwhia,
Died 1876
Read in language
Karena Te Whiwhia, also recorded as Kariana Te Wiawia, belonged to Ngati Hamua of Te Ati Awa. He was the son of Te Whiwhia and Tamaorere (or Tamaarero) and through Te Whiwhia, the grandson of Tiwha and Hinekino. Karena married Hana Nipo (Hana Karena) who died 9 October 1904. Four of their children reached adulthood. Miriama Karena who was later known as Miriama Rapira, Ripeka Karena, Mohi Karena the only son, and Pirihira Karena. Another child Epiha died in 1883. Hana Nipo was also the mother of Riria Tinirongoa Te Ao Mangi by her first husband William Holder. Riria later was the second wife of Wi Te Kahui Kararehe (1846-1906).
Miriama married Rapira Te Keha. Her sister Ripeka married Sam Hing and they had a son Hamuera Te Punga, and a daughter, Metiria Karena. Ripeka and Sam were married in St Peter's Anglican Church, Wellington. Later, Ripeka moved to the Wairarapa. She married, secondly, Mr Nunn and they had 9 children.
Karena's son Mohi Karena had no children.
Pirihira Karena, also known as Haripo, married Haumia Hohua. She was living on Section 19 at Waiwhetu at the time of its taking for housing under the Public Works Act in 1943.
Karena Te Whiwhia's uncle Horopapera Waitapu was born at Waiwhetu and spent the rest of his life there. Te Whiwhia was listed as one of the elders of Waiwhetu. Karena's cousin Tini Waitapu signed the deeds of release at Waiwhetu in 1844.
Karena died in 1876 at Waiwhetu.
References:
- WMB 1 p.174-175, 186, 212-213, 266-267 WMB 4 p.10
- WMB 13 p.95, 253-254, 287-289, 290-292, 293 WMB 16 p.284-285
- Taranaki MB 3 p.345
- Taranaki MB 17 p.166-172, 200-204
- Alexander Turnbull Library MS-Papers-4109