At the same time a large house at Te Kuiti called Tokangamutu was in the final stages of refurbishment by Te Kooti (an act of regard for his hosts Maniapoto for providing him with political sanctuary). Once the refurbishment was completed and the re-dedication protocols were being considered, Taonui Hīkaka (Ngāti Maniapoto) travelled to Kāwhia to "tono" or ask that the name Tokanganui-a-noho be placed on the newly refurbished house at Te Kuiti. Appearing in the photo from left to right: Te Aua Tauwhenua Ngāti Te Wehi, Te Pahi Motutara Ngāti Haua, John Ellis trader/storekeeper, Te Whareroa Ngāti Whakamarurangi, Kauki Tauira Ngāti Kākati (who was married to John Ellis at the time). Reports on the 1873 opening of Tokanganui-a-noho at Mōtakotako were well recorded at the time and are on public record. The tribal affiliation of Te Whareroa also known as Rakena te Whareroa and Te Whareroa Poria has been incorrectly identified by Pākeha writers and historians. He is not from Ngāti Te Wehi, he is a Ngāti Whakamarurangi man of high rank, in 1887 he led the Ngāti Whakamarurangi land claim to the Manuaitu block on which Mōtakotako is sited.

[1]

date 1873 Robert Bush Resident Magistrate Raglan, report to the Native Minister 22nd November 1873 on opening of Te Tokanganui-a-noho at  

Mōtakotako.