Wiremu Nera Te Awaitaia.
Known as William Naylor
Head chief of the Ngatuwahanga and Ngatihourua tribes of Raglan
and Waipa Waikato. He was a famous general and warrior; he took
part in the Waikato war with the Taranaki tribes in 1830 and
assisted in the siege of the Pukerangiora pa (subsequently the site
of General Pratts celebrated sap in 1861) when the starved out
holders of the pah attempted to escape they were captured in
hundreds and brought to Te Wherowhero (afterwards King Potatau
1st) and Te Awaitaia to be killed; their worthies then
proceeded to club the unfortunate prisoners with their greenstone
"meres". After about three hundred had been thus butchered, Te
Wherowhero said "they had better cease as his hand was tired". The
remainder of the prisoners were then retained as slaves. The
Waikato tribes continued fighting the Taranaki tribes, but on
attacking the pa at Moturoa (near the present breakwater) which was
held by Barrett and Love the whalers and the Ngatiawa chiefs Te
Wharepouri and Te Keha and their people the assailants to the
number of about 200 were mowed down by the fire of the six pounders
and muskets which the two chiefs above named had procured at Sydney
and brought to New Zealand in the schooner "Adventure" early in
1830.
Wiremu Nera Te Awataia on his return from the Maori war at
Taranaki, joined in
(overleaf)
Some smaller raids. But he became one of the early converts to
Christianity, and quietly resided at his settlement at Raglan and
Waipa. When hostilities commenced at Taranaki in 1860 Te Awaitaia
armed his people in defence of the Raglan settlers, and he gave
valuable assistance to Major McGregor and other Imperial Officers
during the Waikato war. When the Waikato rebels [ ] Mr Gorst's
place at Te Awamutu and captured and destroyed the Government
printing press. They sent an insulting message to Te Awaitaia
daring him and his Europeans to cross the Maungatawhiri Stream- to
which the old warrior replied "Are you not aware that I am a
descendant of Muriwhenua, who was a constant eater of men in the
olden time". The old chiefs attitude and the presence of a portion
of HM 12th Regiment at Raglan effectually prevented any
hostile movements on that flank of our forces. Wiremu Nera Te
Awaitaia was a very honourable man, of quiet disposition, but when
aroused he was brave and a good general. He must have been nearly
90 years of age when he died.
James Mackay.
Late Civil Commissioner N.Z.
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