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Titore’s Expedition to Tauranga, 1831–2.

Early in December, 1831, the gathering of the Nga-Puhi tribes commenced prior to proceeding south to obtain utu for the destruction of Hara-miti’s expedition. They assembled at Kororareka, and amongst the chiefs were Titore, Rewa, Whare-nui, Te Morenga, Ururoa, Moka and Tareha. On the 25th December, about 200 people arrived at Kororareka from the north to join the expedition, Whare-poaka was with them. These were Whangaroa and Takou people, no doubt, for it was the relatives of the latter who had suffered at Motiti. At that time it was estimated that there were between 500 and 600 natives living at Takou. Of Titore’s expedition, the Rev. H. Williams gives a full account in his diary,^* as he and Mr. Fairbairn accompanied the party in their schooner-rigged boat, leaving the Bay January 3rd, 1832. Their intention was to endeavour to mitigate some of the horrors of Maori warfare. This expedition numbered about 600 men, and it appears that some time in January about 200 of the taua separated from the rest under Rewharewha, or Ururoa of Whangaroa, Whare-rahi and Whare-poaka, and made a raid on the people of the Thames Valley, where they did great destruction amongst the Ngati-Haua, Ngati-Maru, and other tribes living there, as detailed below.