Settlement and Conflict 1834
As a result of the successive migrations of Taranaki iwi to Kapiti , the population swelled. Ngāti Raukawa from the north had also arrived by this time, resulting in pressure on the availability of natural resources. Conflict was inevitable.
In 1834, tension in Kāpiti reached new heights when a Te Ātiawa man was caught stealing food. This of course, led to conflict between Ngāti Raukawa and sections of Ngāti Toa and the Taranaki tribes.
Te Rauparaha allying with his Ngāti Raukawa kin then sent a message to some of his northern relations asking for help. Sections of Waikato arrived with allies from Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Tipa, led by the chiefs Wetini and Nini. Ngāti Tuwharetoa also came to Te Rauparaha’s assistance, led by Papaka Te Heuheu.
Prolonged fighting with muskets around the Haowhenua area ensued with many important leaders between both iwi killed, in particular the old fighting chiefs Te Tupe-o-Tu and Hau Te Horo of Otaraua hapū who fell at a resting place named as a result of their deaths. This place was called ‘Te Matenga o Te Tupe-o-Tu’. The great Ngāti Ruanui tohunga, Turaukawa also fell here, as did Tawhaki and Takarangi.
Other leaders noted during this time were Te Rei Hanataua of Ngāti Ruanui, Mitikakau of Ngāti Maru Wharanui, and the Te Āti Awa chiefs Rauakitua, Te Manutoheroa, Reretawhangawhanga, Hone Tuwhata, Huriwhenua, and Te Uapiki, all of which survived to build communities back in Taranaki and the top of the South Island.
This battle was named ‘Haowhenua’ after the pā site and wider area in which the battle took place.
Following the officiating of peace, Nini, of Ngāti Tipa, uttered the following phrase:
“Hei konei e Āti Awa. E kore au e hoki mai! Ki te tae mai he iwi hei patu i a koe, ka mate!”
“Farewell Āti Awa. I shall not return! If a people come and make war with you, they will perish!”
This was also said to have been expressed by Ngāti Tuwharetoa paramount chief, Mananui Te Heuheu when the news came to him that his younger brother, Papaka Te Heuheu, had died during the fight. He is said to have broken his taiaha as a sign of grief for his brother whilst the negotiations for peace took place.
This battle now signalled a level of destabilisation between the Waikato and Taranaki tribes, and in 1835-36, more migrations took place. While Ngāti Raukawa and their allied tribes retreated beyond the Otaki river mouth, the Taranaki tribes realigned themselves tightly within the Te Hapua area to strengthen themselves against future reprisals.
Despite a short lull in peaceful occupations, the uneasy truce between Te Āti Awa and Ngāti Raukawa was to be short-lived.