Moteo Marae

In the days of Ruruarau’s grandchildren, a young chief named Tarewai quarrelled with his elder half-brother Rangikoianake at Te Wheao above Te Hauke. Tarewai got the better of his brother and his father Manawakawa had to intervene. Realising that the two brothers were going to be continually at each other’s throats, he banished Tarewai to the north side of the Tutaekuri river saying “Go to Puketitiri where the smoke is rising and there you will find your brother Te Operoa.”

Tarewai found his brother and joined Ngati Hinepare who welcomes the young rangatira as a chief. He married Manahau and Te Waiawanga of Ngati Hinepare and gathered Ngati Mahu and a portion of Ngai Tamawahine under him. During his lifetime, he functioned as a chief of Ngati Hinepare living at Wharerangi in the fishing season and at Puketitiri during the bird snaring season. He was later killed in battle at Waioeka near Opotiki, fighting with Ngati Kahungunu taua.

Three of Tarewai’s sons became leaders of Ngati Hinepare in their generation. Koputauaki, the son of Tarewai and Manahau, was a fighting chief of note who died while he was still young. Haemania and Pakapaka, the sons of Tarewai and Te Waiawanga were both prominent fighting chiefs of Ngati Hinepare. Haemania married a daughter of Te Ruruku and lived at Otaia pa on Rorookuri Island. His brother Pakapaka lived at Ohuarau on the Poraiti headland. Both men lived into the early 1800s.