The most famous old Port Molyneux boy was Tuhawaiki, sometimes referred to as John Tuhawaiki, and more commonly known as “Bloody Jack.”

It has been said that Tuhawaiki was born at Tauhinu, which is the old name of a swamp or district on Inchclutha; but all the old page 33 Maoris that I have talked with say, “Tuhawaiki was born at Port Molyneux.”

This much is certain: His father and mother lived at Port Molyneux in the old village known at Murikauhaka, at the mouth of the Matau River, opposite the old sandspit, in the vicinity of the present school.

Tuhawaiki's family history as given to me from a most reliable southern source was as follows:—

“A prominent chief of Kai Tahu, chief of Kaikoura, is often referred to as Te Hau. This was Hau–tapu–nui–o–tu, who drove Kati Mamoe south, finally defeating a Kati Mamoe party in the Waiau district near Te Anau. He married Taumate, and they had three children—a daughter, Whaka Rawa, and two sons, Hone Kai and Puka Rehu.

“Living at Matau was a Kati Mamoe chief, Te Rangi Ihia. He proceeded to Kaiapoi and married Hine Hakiri (a sister of Te Hau).

“Kohi Wai, sister of Rangi Ihia, was taken to Kaiapoi to marry Hone Kai, the son of Te Hau. Thus Kai Tahu and Kati Mamoe intermarried and made peace.

Tattoo signature on Wentworth Deed.

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“This marriage of Hone Kai and Kohi Wai produced a daughter, Kura, and a son, Whakataupuka.

“Kura, the daughter of Hone Kai, ran away from Ruapuke to Molyneux and married Te Kai Haere, of the Kati Huirapa hapu and they begat Tuhawaiki. So the young Tuhawaiki represented the best blood of Kai Tahu and Kati Mamoe.

“Whakataupuka was the uncle of Tuhawaiki. Whakatapuka died about August, 1834, and Tuhawaiki assumed the full tribal authority previously enjoyed by the uncle.”