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Overview
This waka taua (war canoe) called Teremoe once belonged to Te Reimana Te Kaporere and Matene Rangitauira, leaders from the upper Whanganui River. They had become involved in Pai Marire, a Māori religious movement committed to the defence of Māori territorial and political independence. Its followers were popularly known as Hauhau.
Battles on the Whanganui River
In 1864 and 1865 Teremoe took part in battles on the Whanganui River between Pai Marire and their lower river relatives who were loyal to the government. The first was at Moutoa Island, when Pai Marire used Teremoe to carry their dead and wounded from the battlefield. The second was at Ohautahi, where the prominent Whanganui chief Hoani Wiremu Hipango was killed. The waka did another tour of duty later in 1865 when Pai Marire besieged the garrison stationed at Pipiriki. By 1869 the breach within the Whanganui iwi had been mended, and the Pai Marire and kawanatanga (government) sides, led by Major Kemp, worked together to chase guerrilla leader Te Kooti from the upper reaches of the river.
Many uses
Teremoe had a crew of up to thirty. As well as being used for warfare, it was also used as river transport and as a fishing canoe.
Gifted to the Dominion Museum
In 1930 Teremoe was bequeathed to the Dominion Museum by Hoani Wiremu's son Waata and his wife Ema. It was restored, with new sideboards and seating planks carved by Thomas Heberley of Te Atiawa. Heberley also added a tauihu (carved prow) from Matata in the Bay of Plenty, and a taurapa (stern post) from Papaitonga in the Horowhenua. These are recorded in Te Papa's collections as separate objects.