Riwhitete Pokai was a chief of the Ngapuhi tribe in North Auckland, New Zealand in the early 1800s. He was born in 1820 and witnessed early tribal wars as a boy. Pokai became one of the leading warriors of Hone Heke and fought bravely in battles like the Attack on Ohaeawai in 1845. He was heavily tattooed on his face and body according to the traditional Maori practice of ta moko. Pokai never backed down from a fight and inspired his great-great niece to be strong and never give up, as he always gave his best for his tribe.

1. Riwhitete
Pokai
The pine tree of New Zealand

2. The Pine tree of
New Zealand
Riwhitete Pokai,
is my Great
Great Uncle.

3. Riwhitete Pokai
Pokai was born in 1820.
When he was a boy he
watched the war canoes
of Ngapuhi set forth.
Crowded with half naked
men, painted with black
and blue tattoos. They
were fighting the East
Coast tribes with guns
and tomahawk. Later he
saw the men coming
home with human flesh in
baskets then putting them
on to the fire getting
ready for the victory feast.
Then his
journey
began as a
Ngapuhi
chief.

4. Info
Pokai was one of Hone Hekes warriors
because he was brave, not afraid of
anyone or anything. One of the
people he fought with was Ruatara
Tauramoko, of the blue blood clan
also known as Uri-Taniwha (Children of
the sea monster.) Ruatara had
tattooed face, legs and arms he also
had the mean pukana. He was the
perfect fit for a New Zealand warrior.
But he just wasn't a match for
Riwhitete Pokai. They were very best
friends more like family. They both
vowed to fight for the tribe to give up
and never give up on family.
One of the fights
they fought
together was The
Attack on
Ohaeawai.

5. Riwhitete Pokai of the
Ngaphui tribe, (North
Auckland). He was
one of Hone Heke's
leading warriors in the
war of 1845.
This photo is The attack on Ohaeawai.

6. The Big Whanau
Moewaka
(mother)
Wairuaman
gu (bro)
Ahuaneta (sis)
Riwhitete
(him)

7. Tattoos
Pokai moko
means Ta Moko.
But in 1840 they didn't
have needles. They had
to go through horrible
pain with ink on a knife
and carve it in to the
persons face or body. If
he did not do this he
would be shamed and
banned from the village
or sometimes the family
would kill them because
they were disappointed
in their child.

8. Why I chose
Rwhitete.
My Great Great Uncle is my
inspiration because he fought
for what he believed in. He
was strong and never gave up.
He was always the best in his
tribe. Pokai always aimed to
do his best and never gave up
in anything.

9. THE END
By Karlee
Cruicksh
ank