Patara Te Tapetu,
Died 1886
Read in language
Patara Te Tapetu, also called Patara Rangiatea, belonged to Tawhirikura. His father was Rangiatia and his mother was Matenga-kuao or Rahira. His mother was the sister of Te Wharepouri and thus the daughter of Te Whiti-o-rongomai II and through him the granddaughter of Aniwaniwa and Tawhirikura (I). Patara was one of four siblings. The others were Ripeka Wharawhara-i-te-rangi Te Kakapi, a sister who died in 1880 and two brothers named Matene Tauwhare (1806-1893), (Book III p.35) and Makere Te Whakaranika.
Te Kakapi, along with her aunt Te Uamairangi, was captured by Nuku-pewapewa, chief of Ngati Kahukura-awhitia after Te Atiawa, under the leadership of Te Wharepouri, tried to settle in the Wairarapa near Featherston, around 1834. Te Kakapi was taken to Nukutaurua, Hawkes Bay and eventually Te Wharepouri was able to negotiate with Pehi Tu-te-pakihi-rangi, about 1840, for her release. The substance of the release led to the establishment of an agreement between Te Ati Awa and Ngati Kahungunu which defined the tribal boundaries between these two iwi. These boundaries have remained unchanged to the present day.
These were the words of Tu-te-pakihi-rangi, “Listen: my boundaries will be from the Manawa-tu River to the Manga-toro Creek (a tributary) on the east side to its source, thence over the land to Rapu-ruru, and on to Aketiu, round the coast, back to the Manawa-tu River, where the boundaries meet. This land shall be mine, for me and my people. See the Tararua Mountains, which divide the land: let that range be our backbone, and all the rivers and creeks which rise in that backbone and flow west will be water for you to drink from; those flowing east will be for me and mine.”
Patara married Mere Ngawai who was the only child of Karamana Te Awhio of Tawhirikura. Te Awhio had siblings named Hakopa Rerewha, Werita, Harawira Kopeka and Amiria. Te Awhio had interests in the Parangarahu Block, Hutt section 16 and Ngauranga. His parents were Tuhana and Ngawaiwho. Ngawai was also recorded as Ngawaipapa.
Patara and Mere Ngawai had five children named Puatau Patara, Ritihia Patara, , also called Parepare, Hara Patara, who died in March 1909, Komene Patara born 1880, and Te Rangiararo Patara born 1881. In 1889, three of his children were living at Parihaka but one daughter Puatau was living at the Hutt. Patara left interests in land at Ngauranga, Korokoro, Maungaraki, Hutt Section 16, Te Momi Section 20 subdivision no. 8 and Parangarahu. He had also inherited the interests of his sister, Ripeka Te Kakapi, at Tau-whare-rata, in the Wairarapa.
Patara died at Parihaka in 1886.
References
- WMB no. 1C, p. 61-73
- WMB no. 2, p. 347-348
- WMB no.3, p. 137-138, 253
- WMB no. 15, p. 221-223 ; whakapapa
- Otaki MB no. 51, p. 251
- Ballara, Angela. “Te Kakapi, Ripeka Wharawhara-i-te-rangi, ?-1880, Dictionary of New Zealand biography, updated 7 April 2006.