About: Maniapoto

Maniapoto was a Māori rangatira (chieftain) of Ngāti Raukawa in the Tainui tribal confederation from the Waikato region, New Zealand, and the founding ancestor of the Ngāti Maniapoto iwi. Initially, he based himself at Waiponga in the Mohoao-nui swamp, near modern Otorohanga. After the death of his father, Rereahu, he defeated his older half-brother, Te Ihinga-a-rangi, in a battle for pre-eminence. He based himself in the region of modern Te Kuiti for a time, repulsing attacks on this area by Hou-taketake and the Ngāti Taki hapu of Ngāti Tama. Then he returned to Mohoao-nui, settling at Hikurangi, from which he repulsed a large invasion by Wairangi of Ngāti Raukawa. In his old age, he lived in the Waitomo Caves and died peacefully at a meeting of the whole iwi at Pukeroa. He probably lived