Ngati Huarere derives its name from our eponymous ancestor Huarere who was the Grandson of Tamatekapua - the Ariki of Te Arawa waka. Settling at Te Moengahau o Tamatekapua (Moehau), Huarere held mana whenua over much of north Coromandel and the Hauraki Gulf during the 1700's. Being a very strategic Chief he arranged his Pa so two Pa were always in view of each other. They were able to communicate over the distance between them through the use of smoke. Ngati Huarere were known as great Pa builders and during times of conflict built their Pa in trees. Ngati Huarere is now located majorly in the Whangapoua basin. It extends North to Motukopu at Wainuiototo (New Chums) and South to Kuaotunu and into the ranges taking in much of the forest. Motutere also known as Castle Rock is a significant rock formation which stands proudly within our rohe.
Hamiora Mangakahia was born in 1838 to Riria Poau (Ngati Huarere) and Piripi Te Aue Te Ikatoroa (Ngati Kahungunu). From childhood he was exposed to the new commercial world arising from contact with Europeans. Through watching on as his mother Riria had direct dealings with the timber contractors of the time and later observing his older brother Mohi Mangakahia who had been deprived of much of his land, he learned a profound and lasting distrust of Europeans. Mohi, who was a Native Land Court agent involved in politics, was expected to stand for election to the Western Maori seat in Parliament in 1876, but he died in 1875. Hamiora was the heir to both his brother's influence and his problems. Hamiora was elected Premier of the Kotahitanga movement on 17 June 1892. Just four days later he presented a bill requesting that a petition be sent to the colonial parliament asking that all legislation on Maori land and people cease, and that Maori be empowered to make their own laws. He continued to take an active role in the Kotahitanga Parliament and land issues until his death in 1918.
Contemporary: Richard Seddon
An extremely noteworthy mention of Meri Te Tai Mangakahia, third wife of Hamiora Mangakahia (1868–1920) of Te Rarawa, was born in the Hokianga district. At a meeting of the Parliament in Hawke’s Bay in 1893 Meri Te Tai Mangakahia presented a motion requesting that women participate in the selection of members of parliament. She later addressed the parliament on her motion - the first woman recorded to have ever done so. During her speech she urged that women should not only be allowed to vote, but also to become members in the Māori Parliament. In her view many Māori women owned lands in their own right and should have a say. Her work and that of other NZ women resulted in NZ being the first country in the world to allow women to vote.
Contemporary: Kate Shepherd
