Heeni Ngarino

The second Maori King, Tawhiao, visited Ngati Hine paramount chief Maihi Paraone Kawiti at Waiomio in 1885, leaving behind his niece Heningarino who became Kawiti's third wife and bore six children.

If Heeni and Maihi's 's first child Martha (Miria) was born in 1862, then Heeni would've have been 15 years old when she gave birth. This corresponds with reports that Heeni was a young teenager when she was brought to Ngapuhi.

Heeni Ngarino was from Tainui and was apparently brought north to marry Maihi Kawiti and thereby help cement peace between the two Iwi. By all accounts she also had a sister brought north named Arihia and a brother too.

When Maihi died in 1889, the custom was for the wife and whanau to be looked after by a close relative - in this case his named successor and nephew - Hoterene.

Heeni Ngarino died on 21 Feb, 1936 and so she outlived her husband Hoterene by 26 years. That'll explain the words (dates etc) that can't be seen on the headstone which is in the Wairere Wahi Tapu opposite the Miria (Te Rapunga whare) marae.

Note DEATH:Aged 105 yrs on death cert.

Father listed in LDS records as Hori(Maori for George), mother as Katarina. Birth cert. lists father as being George, a non-maori and mother listed as Rangiwhakaahu of the Ngati Raukawa tribe. Possibly brought north as a captive after the Ngapuhi war. Possibly 15 yrs when married to Maihi P. Kawiti. Baptised and confirmed by J.E.Magliby in the LDS Waiomio Branch.

From Headstone noteswhich says Heni Ngarino Maraea Hoterene, 89, 21 Feb 1936.. So the death certificate would have had to be wrong...?

She was Maihi's 3rd wife

From a reunion book 1994 Mereana & Te Ropere Tipene Reunion it says"Heeni Ngarino was reputed to have been the "peace offering" from King Tawhiao of Tainui to Kawati. The arrangement was said to have ceased bloodshed between the two tribes. It is understood Heeni was from the Puaha O Waikato (teh area around Tuakau, Port Waikato, parts of Waiuku and along the Waikato river to the river mouth). Efforts to trave Heeni's background have begun. a meeting in Papakura with the writer of "Ngati Tahinga, The History Of" should shed a little light , since that hapu is the principal group in Port Waikato.Less

27 August 2013 by M Shortland