NINIWA-I-TE-RANGI

Niniwa-i-te-rangi was a female ariki of the Wairarapa. Her whakapapa traces her descent from both the Ngati Kahungunu and Rangitane tribe;

She was first cousin to the famous chief and politician, Tamahau Mahupuku, and closely related to the illustrious chief Nukupewapewa (see 15a).

Niniwa was a wealthy woman and among her many possessions were racehorses, large blocks of land and more than one husband! It is said that upon the discovery of one of her husband's puremutanga she paid for all the ensuing divorce proceedings and left the courts quite flabbergasted!

Her novel ways of delivering koha are still often spoken of. On some occasions she is said to have had money sewn in her piupiu from which the receiver of the koha would have to pluck the treasure and she is even said to have dropped her piupiu on the marae as a form of koha!

Often these extravagances made her an enemy of the chiefs, but her mana and the kaha of her finances ensured that she had the run of the field, either on the race-track, in the courtroom or on the marae-atea.