Te Whiti o Rongomai- Ko wai ia?

Te Whiti o Rongomai was the son of a chief. He belonged to the Ngati Whiti hapu and his iwi was Te Ati Awa. Te Whiti was believed to have been born at Pukeariki, near New Plymouth. 

He was believed to have been born in 1832 shortly before his father was killed in a battle between Te Ati Awa and Waikato iwi at Otaka pa. Other family members say he was born in 1816 or 1817 and his gravestone at Parihaka gives this date.  

Because of this battle, the family moved to southern Taranaki and then north again. 

Te Whiti was identified at an early age (along with his cousin Tohu Kakahi) as being a person with some wonderful skills and leadership qualities. He was taught important tribal knowledge during this time.  

As a young man, Te Whiti met various Christian teachers and was taught the Bible by a visiting minister called Johann Riemenschneider. He started reading the Bible and became very knowledgeable about Christian teachings.