Te Mete Raukawa (c1836 - 1926)

Te Mete Raukawa was a prominent leader and spokesperson on behalf of his people of Ngāti Hangarau. As the eldest born to a Māori mother (Raukawa Mātia) and Scottish tradesman (Simpson Smith), Te Mete saw the merging of two worlds as he grew older, though he remained steadfast in advocating for the rights and wellbeing of his people of Hangarau. 

Besides his close affiliation to the iwi of Ngāti Ranginui, Te Mete also had strong whakapapa ties to Te Kahui Ariki of the Waikato's Kīngitanga line. These ties, overtime, would see him fulfilling roles within the Māori King’s council - Te Kaumarua, where he became magistrate and councilor alongside his fellow Ngāti Ranginui representative, Potaua Tangitu of Pirirākau. Their names in particular feature strongly in the history of Tauranga’s ancient and infamous Wairere Track which became referred to as the ‘Māori highway’. This long and arduous track up past the Wairere falls was one of the few routes that provided access between the two regions of Tauranga and the Waikato and travelers would often ride on horseback to attend parliament hui in Rukumoana pā, Maungakawa and in later times, Tūrangawaewae.

Te Mete's contribution and loyalty to the Kīngitanga would eventually be honoured when the poukai circuit ventured into Tauranga for the first time. King Mahuta and his followers were hosted by Te Mete and the rest of the hau kāinga at Peterehema when the wharenui 'Te Auiti' was initially located on the beachfront of Hangarau's shores. It was during this occasion, and under the auspice of King Mahuta that the Kīngitanga coat of arms "Te Paki o Matariki" was gifted in commemoration to Te Mete's service for Tāwhiao as part of Te Kahui Ariki. 

Te Mete Raukawa fought at the battle of Gate Pā alongside many other rangatira of Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāiterangi, thus seeing firsthand the toll of dispossession and displacement affected by the Crown’s military invasion of Tauranga and the raupatu that soon followed. In later times, Te Mete continued to advocate for his hapū and petition to the Crown for the return of Hangarau lands whilst still being actively engaged in the wider community. Te Mete and his wife Whareangiangi leave a lasting legacy in their uri to this day still reside within the rohe of Hangarau and the wider region of Tauranga, thus connecting to many other well known whānau across the Moana.