Te Heuheu Tukino 1v Horonuku 1866 1888 Waikato Nz

edmondsallan - hello - War came to the Taupo region in 1869 when Te Kooti and his followers left the Urewera mountains. A Taupo chief who may have represented Horonuku went to Waioeka and invited Te Kooti to Taupo. On 8 June Te Kooti's advance guard killed nine government volunteer soldiers at Opepe, 15 miles from Lake Taupo. Te Kooti was joined by Horonuku, and together they went to visit Tawhiao, the Maori King, at Tokangamutu (Te Kuiti). Te Kooti sought the military support of the King movement, and in response Rewi Maniapoto and other leaders returned to Taupo with him and Horonuku. However, when Te Kooti's small army was defeated at Te Ponanga saddle in September 1869 his King movement allies realised he had no chance of winning against the government, and withdrew their support. Horonuku remained with Te Kooti and was at his pa at Te Porere on 4 October 1869 when it was attacked by government forces. Te Kooti was defeated and withdrew into the King Country. Horonuku and those Ngati Tuwharetoa who had supported him were also overwhelmed and forced to withdraw. They surrendered a few days later. Some Ngati Tuwharetoa chiefs had fought on the government side. Horonuku reproached them for having abandoned him, leaving him no option but to follow Te Kooti. He and his family were sent to Napier and later stayed for a time at Pakowhai with Karaitiana Takamoana. He returned to Taupo in 1870.

In the 1880s Horonuku represented Ngati Tuwharetoa in the Native Land Court as their title to land in the Taupo region came under investigation. In 1882 and 1883 Ngati Tuwharetoa had agreed to place much of their land within the Rohe Potae (King Country) land block with that of other tribes who supported the King movement, but in 1885 they withdrew and asked the Native Land Court to investigate the titles of all land. Boundary disputes led to the concession of land in the west to Ngati Maniapoto and further claims on Taupo land were made by tribes who had fought for the government against Te Kooti. Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui, who had fought against Te Kooti at Te Porere, claimed southern Taupo by right of conquest. He told the court that he had lit fires of occupation in the area. It is said that Horonuku demanded to know where the fires were, denied there were any, and pointing out the window of the court to the smoking peak of Tongariro said, 'There is my fire.' The great land block of Taupo-nui-a-Tia was awarded to Ngati Tuwharetoa in 1886 in a decision that excluded other tribes.

During the land court hearings Horonuku had decided that in order to preserve the sacred nature of the mountains to the south of Lake Taupo he would give them to the government for a national park. Despite opposition from other Ngati Tuwharetoa leaders the peaks of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu were transferred to the Crown in September 1887. Horonuku Te Heuheu died at Waihi, near Tokaanu, probably in late July 1888. He was said to be 62 years of age. He was succeeded as paramount leader of Ngati Tuwharetoa by his son, Tureiti.
Till we meet again - Regards -edmondsallan