60-770: Hakarimata Range is a range of hills on the western edge of Ngāruawāhia township, in the Waikato region of New Zealand, overlooking the confluence of the Waikato and Waipā Rivers . The Hakarimata Range is separated from the Taupiri Range by the Taupiri Gorge , through which the Waikato River flows. After the invasion of the Waikato , parts of the Hakarimatas were confiscated in 1864. 1,850 hectares (4,600 acres) of native forest on
120-459: A biodegradable poison also known as 1080. From 1979 to 1984, possum control was stopped due to lack of funding. In spite of regular and frequent TB testing of cattle herds, the number of infected herds snowballed and continued to increase until 1994. The area of New Zealand where there were TB wild animals expanded from about 10 to 40%. That possums are such effective transmitters of TB appears to be facilitated by their behaviour once they catch
180-687: A book about the history of the town titled 'Meeting of the Waters'. In March 1998, a freight train derailed on the local North Island Main Trunk line's rail bridge across the Waikato River. The incident caused structural damage to the bridge. Until 1923 springs in Waipa Esplanade and Market Street were used. In April 1923 a reticulation scheme was opened, supplied by a dam on the Quarry Creek (now Mangarata Stream), 3 ⁄ 4 mile (1.2 km) away, in
240-457: A deserted Ngāruawāhia on 8 December 1863, but Grey never came to talk peace. Despite Māori protest, sales of confiscated land went ahead in 1864, shortly after the invasion . During the 19th century, Ngāruawāhia was named Queenstown and then Newcastle. However, the town returned to the original name in 1878. A 100 hp (75 kW) gas power station was built in Herschell St in 1913 by
300-632: A nationwide programme of cattle testing and possum control with the goal of eradicating Mycobacterium bovis from wild vector species across 2.5 million hectares – or one quarter – of New Zealand's at-risk areas by 2026 and, eventually, eradicating the disease entirely. The TB-free New Zealand programme is regarded as "world-leading". It has successfully reduced cattle and deer herd infection rates from more than 1700 in 1994 to fewer than 100 herds in July 2011. Much of this success can be attributed to sustained possum control reducing cross-infection and breaking
360-460: A new species, lamprey , was found. Since the land was reserved (from 1905 onwards), the fringe areas and lower slopes have slowly regenerated after suffering light logging, fires, pigs, goats, possums , cats, hedgehogs , rats, mice, stoats , weasels and ferrets, with occasional deer and wallaby . Goats, possum and rats are controlled, with possum self-resetting traps trialled in 2011. About 200 ha (490 acres) of privately owned forest adjoin
420-407: A number of countries. For many years, jumping off the rail bridge has been a tradition. However, organisations such as KiwiRail want the practice to end. Hopuhopu is 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Ngāruawāhia. From 1853 Hopuhopu had a boys' mission school , which lost most of its pupils in 1862 and, by 1863, was reported as in disrepair. The mission house burnt down in 1886. An army camp
480-783: A population density of 720 people per km . Ngāruawāhia had slightly smaller boundaries in the 2018 Census, covering 9.42 km (3.64 sq mi). It had a population of 6,621, an increase of 1,257 people (23.4%) since the 2013 census , and an increase of 1,287 people (24.1%) since the 2006 census . There were 1,962 households, comprising 3,234 males and 3,384 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female, with 1,914 people (28.9%) aged under 15 years, 1,434 (21.7%) aged 15 to 29, 2,661 (40.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 606 (9.2%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 54.2% European/ Pākehā , 58.7% Māori , 5.9% Pacific peoples , 3.1% Asian , and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas
540-491: A roll of 166. Common brushtail possum in New Zealand The common brushtail possum ( Trichosurus vulpecula ) was introduced from Australia to New Zealand , where it has become invasive and a major agricultural and conservation pest. (In Māori it is called paihamu , a transliteration of "possum".) European settlers aiming to establish a wild source for food and fibre and fur pelts for clothing introduced
600-602: Is Tribal Huk, who have been seen as heroes by the community for providing lunches to schoolchildren in Ngāruawāhia, Hamilton and Huntly . In particular, they have been known for making sandwiches, which earned them the nickname "Sandwich Gang". In October 2016, Tribal Huk president Jamie Pink started a movement against methamphetamine , known in New Zealand as "P". Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson supported Pink's message to Ngāruawāhia methamphetamine dealers to either leave
660-442: Is a major threat to the dairy, beef, and deer farming industries. The disease is endemic in possums across about 38% of New Zealand (known as 'vector risk areas'). In these areas, nearly 70% of new herd infections can be traced back to possums or ferrets. The Biosecurity Act 1993 , which established a national pest management strategy, is the legislation behind control of the disease in New Zealand. The Animal Health Board operates
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#1733085140250720-634: Is home to the Kīngitanga . The first Māori King, Pōtatau Te Wherowhero , was crowned at Ngāruawāhia in 1858 and was living there when he died two years later. The current Māori Queen is Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō ; she obtained the throne at Tūrangawaewae Marae following the death of her father in 2024. Ngāruawāhia has two marae affiliated with the Waikato Tainui hapū of Ngāti Mahuta and Ngāti Te Weehi : Tūrangawaewae and its Mahinaarangi or Turongo meeting house, and Waikeri-Tangirau Marae. A local gang
780-562: Is located 20 kilometres (12 mi) north-west of Hamilton at the confluence of the Waikato and Waipā Rivers , adjacent to the Hakarimata Range . Ngāruawāhia is in the Hamilton Urban Area , the fourth largest urban area in New Zealand. The location was once considered as a potential capital of New Zealand. Ngāruawāhia covers 11.86 km (4.58 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 8,540 as of June 2024, with
840-475: Is opposition to the use of 1080 from some quarters, as New Zealand is the world's largest user of 1080. To prevent damage to young trees, it seems to be necessary to keep numbers very low, perhaps 5% of the levels that would be reached without interference. DoC is the largest single agency involved in possum control and much possum control is also carried by the AHB, councils and regional authorities, especially to combat
900-467: Is rising and has almost equalled the numbers killed in poisoning. A number of New Zealand companies are exporting possum carcasses to Taiwan , Hong Kong and Malaysia for human consumption, where possum is regarded as a delicacy and known as "Kiwi bear". There is also a small industry processing possum meat as 'Possyum' dog food, also for export. In 2010 the Royal New Zealand Society for
960-402: Is rotting". The broadcaster later accepted a challenge to visit the town and an article relating to the incident appeared on a Waikato Times front page. According to Waikato District Mayor Allan Sanson, du Plessis-Allan "really upset locals". In June 2016, local mayor Allan Sanson said du Plessis-Allan spent around three hours in the town, apologizing to residents. In 2019, the name of
1020-703: Is strongly scented in spring. Tūī , kererū , pīwakawaka , pīpīwharauroa , kārearea , pekapeka , copper skink , Auckland green gecko and peripatus are among the species in the bush. 16 species of native fish include short and longfinned eels and banded , short-jaw and giant , kōkopu . In 1995/96, to connect the Hakarimata tree canopy with the Waikato River, and thus encourage indigenous fish, three Waikato tributaries had 12 km (7.5 mi) of fences, 12 stock-water troughs, 5 bridges, and over 10,000 trees and shrubs added. By 2003, fish had increased from 63 to 80 fish per 150 m (490 ft) of stream and
1080-487: Is the added benefit of killing other invasive species . There have been isolated reports of pets, in particular dogs, succumbing to poisoning from 1080, probably through eating possum carcasses. The Animal Health Board and the Department of Conservation jointly operate poison drops. The effects of these drops on the environment have been considered by ERMA in allowing the use of 1080. and in consultation with Māori . There
1140-448: Is the town's co-educational state secondary school, with a roll of 319 as of August 2024. The town has two English-language state primary schools: Ngaruawahia School, with a roll of 135; and Waipa School, with a roll of 354. St Paul's Catholic School is a co-educational state-integrated primary school, with a roll of 105. Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Bernard Fergusson is a co-educational Māori-language state primary school, with
1200-509: The Department of Conservation , Animal Health Board (AHB) and regional councils use 1080, which can have damaging effects on the surrounding ecosystem to target larger areas. Studies by DoC have found that the risk of the few losses of native birds; (34 individuals in 70 aerial drop operations) and native invertebrates and mammals are outweighed by the recovery of the native species once the competition for food and predation has been eased. There
1260-462: The Whatawhata - Raglan road as passing over the Hakarimatas. Hakarimata's name derives from a 17th-century feast, when Ngāti Maniapoto joined the local Waikatos to celebrate the birth of a child. There was a mountain of raw forest foods; hence the name Hākari-kai-mata (uncooked food mountain), condensed to Hakarimata. Hakarimata is part of the roughly north - south Kawhia Syncline ( Taupiri to
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#17330851402501320-407: The 1980s and sold to Fulton Hogan in 2016. An extension which would have doubled the size of the quarry wasn't permitted in 2008. It would have taken native trees estimated to be 800 years old. The quarry then employed 13 and supplied about 35% of the area's needs. Environment Waikato granted Perry Aggregates resource consents in 2009, following which bait stations were put in the area in 2011 and
1380-511: The Caledonian Ground in Frankton . Ngaruawahia did however beat Hamilton United 27 – 4 in the first ever Northern Union game to be played at Hamilton's Steele Park in 1912. The senior team were Champion of Champions in 1956 and 1957. Ngāruawāhia is the home of the rugby league team Turangawaewae RLC, which is named after the marae opposite the clubrooms. The club currently holds the record for
1440-618: The Hakarimata Rail Trail (off Waingaro Rd) at the south. Te Araroa follows that walkway to the summit, where a viewing tower offers vistas towards the coast, across the Waikato Basin and to Ruapehu on a clear day. Te Aroroa drops from the summit by the other main walkway, Hakarimata Summit Track (2 km, 3 hr return, 335 metres on 1349 steps), to Brownlee Avenue in Ngāruawāhia. The steps had 140,000 visits in 2016, compared to 5000 in 2011, shortly after they opened. The remainder of
1500-472: The Hakarimatas. The concrete dam is 100 feet (30 m) long and 26 feet (7.9 m) high and now accessible by the Waterworks Walk from Brownlee Avenue, alongside Mangarata Stream. The population was then 1100 in 240 houses. By 1965 the population was 3,630, so water was instead pumped from the Waikato and from a deep bore, with a new reservoir and water treatment plant opened in 1965. By April 2001,
1560-542: The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals criticised a number of New Zealand schools which had carried out "possum-tossing contests", which involved throwing dead possums. The society said that "while it's technically not illegal, it's morally wrong to throw a dead animal around". The principal of one of the schools said that the contest helped pupils to engage with the outdoors and had also included education about humane methods of possum control. A local newspaper editorial argued that
1620-529: The Public Works Estimates and the bridge was reported complete in 1920, except for its approaches. The bridge opened in 1921 and, on 28 July 1921, was officially opened by the Minister of Public Works, J. G. Coates . It was 12 ft (3.7 m) wide and 436 ft (133 m) long, made up of 3 x 123 ft (37 m), a 43 ft (13 m) and a 20 ft (6.1 m) span. Two piers were in
1680-686: The Town Board for lighting. It used Glen Massey coal, which was converted to gas in a Cambridge Patent Gas Producer (many were used about this time in Australasia) and used to drive a 2-cylinder gas engine. It closed in 1924. Much of the machinery was removed in 1950 and from 1954 the building was used as a scout hall. Officers from the United States visited Ngāruawāhia during World War II and would share food at hāngī . Queen Elizabeth II has visited Ngāruawāhia on two occasions (1953 & 1974). On
1740-441: The Waikato. It is near the southern limit of kauri forest and northern limit of beech forest, with plants and animals of all three forest types. Occasional large rata and rimu stand above the canopy of tawa , kohekohe , hinau , rewarewa , mangeao and pukatea . There are also some miro , Hall's totara and tanekaha . The reserve also contains several threatened plants including Alseuosmia quercifolia, or topara, which
1800-565: The bridge has been reduced by about 5,000 vehicles a day. Ngāruawāhia's history is reflected in the number of its Listed Buildings – Category 1 Turangawaewae House built in 1912–1919 as Te Kauhanganui building in a fusion of Arts and Crafts and traditional Māori styles; Category 2 – Band Rotunda, Delta Tavern, Doctor's House, former bakery, former Flourmill Store, former Māori pā – Puke i Ahua, Grant's Chambers, 13 Lower Waikato Esplanade, 2 Old Taupiri Rd, Pioneer Gun Turret, Riverdale, St Paul's Church, War Memorial. Ngāruawāhia
1860-585: The common brushtail possum from Australia (from Victorian and Tasmanian populations) to New Zealand in the 1850s. Even as late as 1936 the government refused Taranaki Acclimatisation Society permission to introduce a new strain of possums and in 1937 the Waitaki Acclimatisation Society proposed a closed season to allow numbers to recover. The earliest introduction may have been at Riverton/Aparima in 1840. An article in Nature in 1870 warned of
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1920-401: The cost in 1914. The State Advances office lent £2,500 for the bridge in 1915. Wartime shortages caused further delays, but by 1917 the new bridge was taking shape. Further delay occurred when additional piles had to be driven. The Minister reported the work well in hand in 1919, but then a temporary bridge, used in construction, was hit by a steamer. Work got under way again, £3,000 was in
1980-408: The damaged rail bridge was mended. In 2008, Ngāruawāhia set a world record for the largest haka and by 2010 the town had its own community news. In 2011, murals were installed for Ngāruawāhia's 150th anniversary in 2013 Ngaruawahia High School (which opened in 1963) celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013. In May 2016, Heather du Plessis-Allan (an NZME broadcaster) claimed that the "town
2040-495: The dangers, as did farmers and fruit growers, but some academics supported introduction and the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts was still introducing possums at Rotorua in the 1910s. Introductions peaked in the 1920s. By the 1980s the peak population had reached an estimated 60–70 million. Through control measures, by 2009 the New Zealand population had been reduced to an estimated 30 million. Possums are vectors of bovine tuberculosis ( Mycobacterium bovis ), which
2100-506: The disease cycle. For example, at Hohotaka , in New Zealand's central North Island , control work from 1988 to 1994 achieved a sustained mean reduction of 87.5% in the density of TB‐infected possums. As expected, annual TB incidence in local cattle herds consequently declined by a similar amount (83.4%). Possums are controlled through a combination of trapping , ground-baiting (laying poisoned baits by hand) and, where other methods are impractical, aerial treatment with sodium fluoroacetate ,
2160-512: The disease. This behaviour has been captured on video. The introduction of possums has been ecologically damaging because the native vegetation has evolved in the absence of mammalian omnivores . Possums selectively browse native vegetation causing particular damage to broadleaved trees, notably Metrosideros species including rātā . This leads to competition for food with native forest birds, changes in forest composition, and eventually canopy collapse. Possums are opportunists and will eat
2220-418: The early 1960s with large Easter conventions. Today there are two separate camp sites on 38 hectares of land. The camp offers school holiday camps throughout the year. During the terms, the camps are used by various groups, including schools, churches and sporting organisations. Ngaruawahia United , known as "The Green Machine", is the local football (soccer) club, founded in 1968. Centennial Park serves as
2280-586: The eggs of native birds. They do not have so much impact on southern beech ( Nothofagus ), but their presence tends to reduce the species diversity of Nothofagus forest, since they eat many of the other species that would naturally be present. The predation of bird eggs and chicks has led them to be referred to as "reluctant folivores" in that they eat foliage to survive but prefer other foods. Attempts to reduce numbers by trapping and poisoning have had some success. Trapping and cyanide are generally used by individual hunters as pest control or fur harvesting, while
2340-541: The first team to win consecutive titles in the annual Waicoa Bay Premiers Competition, consisting of all teams in the Waikato, Coast and Bay Of Plenty regions. 'Ngaruawahia Rugby League Club' (Panthers) are 2011 champions, Premiers, U17, U14, U13 are all champions. The local regatta has been a fundamental event for the region for well over a century. An event is held every year in March on the Waikato River . The first regatta
2400-511: The home ground for the club, and has been the home venue for ASB Premiership side Waikato FC in past seasons. The town's rugby league teams are Ngaruawahia Panthers and Tūrangawaewae. The 'Ngaruawahia Rugby League Club' is the oldest such club in the Waikato. Early games were played on varying venues, for instance Taupiri paddock and Paterson Park. The first major match for the town was held in August 1911 when they lost to Auckland 22 – 36 at
2460-433: The latter occasion, then Māori Queen Dame Te Ātairangikaahu and her husband Whatumoana Paki welcomed Queen Elizabeth II to the local marae . The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival was held in 1973, and featured many music acts, including some that went on to become internationally famous such as Black Sabbath and Split Enz . It was the first large outdoor music festival in New Zealand. In 1980, Mayor Latta released
Hakarimata Range - Misplaced Pages Continue
2520-569: The north, Kapamahunga to the south), though the Hakarimata Anticline is at about a 30° angle to the rest of the syncline, probably due to strike slip movement along the Waipa Fault , Late Triassic Newcastle Group, sandstones , siltstones and greywacke have been folded, faulted and covered by other sedimentary rocks to form the Hakarimatas. Hakarimata is the largest remnant of broadleaf - podocarp lowland forest that once dominated
2580-461: The quarry was given Mimico Environmental Awards for that and, in 2018, for extending native fish passage . The range has been used for recreational rambling since at least 1892. There are two main walkways through the range, allowing excellent views of the Waikato Plains below. The main one is Hakarimata Walkway (12 km, 7 hr 30 min) along the ridge from Parker Road at the northern end to
2640-491: The range are protected as a scenic reserve . A council supported community group, the Hakarimata Restoration Trust, created in 2001, is helping care for the range. Although now usually applied to the hills immediately west of Ngāruawāhia, maps such as Hochstetter's of 1859, the 1925 geology map and 1944 one inch map show 'Hakarimata Range' as extending south to what is now SH23 . Similarly, old accounts describe
2700-461: The reserve, some of which is protected by covenant. Kauri dieback disease is not present, so a boot cleaning station was put at the Huntly end in 2015. Fire is also a threat. In 2017 an area of 600 by 300m on a ridge beside the quarry was burnt. The large quarry at 181 Waingaro Road, Ngāruawāhia, opened in a quarry reserve in 1948 and now goes well below sea-level. It was bought by Brian Perry Ltd in
2760-477: The river on 6 ft (1.8 m) concrete cylinders sunk 37 ft (11 m) below normal water-level. The others were reinforced concrete on concrete piling and the deck and trusses of Australian hardwood. Complaints had been made about a single-lane bridge since before it was built, so, when the new NIMT bridge was built, the Main Highways Board leased the old one and added decking. The conversion
2820-520: The river. On 20 August 1955 the centre span was placed and a 1955 photo shows the bridge almost finished. The first car drove over the bridge on 19 October 1956. By 2008 17,392 vehicles a day were crossing the bridge. No more recent counts have been published, but, after the opening of the Taupiri link in 2013, traffic on the Great South Rd in Ngāruawāhia, was 12,467 in 2015, suggesting that traffic on
2880-409: The spread of bovine tuberculosis . An industry using fur pelts and wool mixed with possum fur fibre has developed, with trappers and hunters providing raw material. The fur is often sold as 'eco-fur' by a number of manufacturing and retailing businesses. Possum hairs are hollow, like polar bear hairs, and the wool produced is both soft, and an excellent insulator. The numbers of animals taken for fur
2940-473: The threat of bovine tuberculosis. In 2009, conservation measures had achieved some significant success, especially in certain regions, and had reduced possum numbers to around 30 million animals from a carrying capacity of 48 million. (Estimates produced in the 1980s of 70 million possums were flawed.) Almost half (13.3 million hectares) of New Zealand's vegetated land is under some form of possum control, either for conservation reasons, or to reduce
3000-520: The town was officially gazetted as Ngāruawāhia. Until the Waikato invasion the rivers were the main transport routes, but, after the Great South Road and main trunk line were built, the rivers became barriers, which needed crossings. As early as 1870 a public meeting called for a bridge, but a punt continued to be the main means of crossing the river until the road-rail bridge opened for traffic in 1876. So long as there were few trains, there
3060-528: The town within 24 hours or "visits" would begin. The demand was also supported by members of the community who had gathered at a local meeting. According to a gang source, Ngāruawāhia became P free, but the Police Association stated that there was no evidence that P dealers had left Ngāruawāhia. There is additionally concern Pink has damaged the work that Tribal Huk did feeding a thousand Waikato schoolchildren. In November 2016, another community meeting
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#17330851402503120-619: The track south to Hakarimata Rail Trail (3.5 km, 2 hr) can be linked by a 1.8 km walk along Waingaro Road back to Brownlee Ave. There are several shorter walks using parts of the Hakarimata Walkway and/or the Summit Track:- Ng%C4%81ruaw%C4%81hia Ngāruawāhia ( Māori pronunciation: [ŋaːɾʉaˈwaːhia] ) is a town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It
3180-445: Was built on the mission site in the 1920s, including its own water supply, ammunition dumps and a railway siding. A 1925 photograph showed only one building and many tents, but a 1955 aerial photo showed the extent of building, which was largely complete by 1927. In 1993 the camp was returned to Waikato-Tainui , who converted it to their headquarters and Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development. Ngaruawahia High School
3240-541: Was 8.6, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.5% had no religion, 30.4% were Christian , 6.1% had Māori religious beliefs , 0.6% were Hindu , 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.4% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 579 (12.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,155 (24.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 468 people (9.9%) earned over $ 70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
3300-422: Was an unofficial event in 1892, involving both Māori and Pākehā festivities. The regatta provided a means of association between two ethnic groups, socially and culturally. The first official regatta took place in 1896 and since then has grown to become one of New Zealand's largest aquatic festivals. During the centennial regatta in March 1996, over 48,000 people visited the town to see thousands of performers from
3360-530: Was born, Ngāti Maniapoto were invited to the celebration in an attempt to reconcile the tribes. Te Ngaere's father named the boy Te Mana-o-te-rangi in honour of Ngāti Maniapoto. Peace was established between the tribes, and Te Ngaere shouted " Wāhia ngā rua " (break open the food pits). When Rangiriri pā was taken by General Cameron after a white flag of truce was flown, Cameron informed Māori that Governor Grey would only come to talk peace if his forces were allowed to enter Ngāruawāhia unopposed. Cameron entered
3420-448: Was completed in early November 1931, allowing 2-way traffic. Single lane traffic was reinstated for a few months in 1936 to allow a 40 ft (12 m) truss on the 1921 bridge to be replaced. Traffic was still increasing. In 1935 traffic between Ohinewai and Ngāruawāhia averaged 660 vehicles a day. By 1938 it had risen to 1,329. On 13 March 1953 a contract was let for a new steel truss bridge. An April 1955 photo shows two piers in
3480-617: Was held. Pink was not present. In the 1996 census, the majority of residents identified as Christian . A Bible is traditionally used during the crowning of a Māori monarch. In 1995, the Holy Trinity Anglican Church burned down, and a new church had been built in its place by 1998. On the northern side of the Waipā River is the Christian Youth Camps (CYC), the largest youth camp site in New Zealand. CYC started in
3540-448: Was little complaint that gates closed 10 minutes before a train was due. However, by the 1900s road and rail traffic was increasing, averaging 20 trains, 275 pedestrians, 43 equestrians, 29 light vehicles, 18 milk carts, 6 wagons, and 55 stock a day in 1910. A survey for a road bridge was done in 1911. Test borings for piles were done in 1912. The Ngāruawāhia Town Board and Waikato, Waipa, and Raglan County Councils agreed to share
3600-408: Was that 2,391 (50.8%) people were employed full-time, 558 (11.9%) were part-time, and 348 (7.4%) were unemployed. The name Ngāruawāhia means "the opened food pits", which derives from a great feast in the 17th century. Te Ngaere, a Ngāti Tamainupō chief, and Heke-i-te-rangi, a Ngāti Maniapoto woman, had eloped and settled at Ngāruawāhia, causing a rift between their tribes. When their first child
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