- Source: Rangi Topeora
Rangi Kuīni Wikitōria Topeora (?–1865-1873?) was a notable New Zealand tribal leader or chief, peacemaker and composer of waiata. Of Māori descent, she identified with the Ngāti Toa iwi.
Biography
Topeora was born in Kawhia, King Country, New Zealand, perhaps in 1790. Topeara was a niece of significant chief Te Rauparaha, her brother was chief Te Rangihaeta. Her mother name was Waitohi and Te Rauparaha's sister. Her father's name was Te Rakiherea. She was a descendant of Hoturoa of the Tainui canoe. In the 1820s Topeora was part of the group that migrated south with Te Rauparaha from Kawhia ending firstly on Kāpiti Island.
Topeora was a female chief of Ngāti Toa and spoke for her people, in 1836 she helped broker peace between Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Tama over a land dispute including getting her son Matene involved. Probably in her early 50s she signed the Treaty of Waitangi in Kāpiti on 14 May 1840. Topeora was known to speak formally on the marae which was mostly a role men undertook during this time. In 1861 she made a denunciation of the Kingitanga due to its distribution of the 'status quo' including writing to politician Donald McLean.
She was baptised at Ōtaki on 2 May 1847, no name would satisfy her but Te Kuini (the Queen); one of her husbands was given the name Arapeta (Albert), after Queen Victoria's consort. Later she was commonly known as the 'Queen of the South'.
Topeora composed a song called He Kai-oraora na Tope-ora which was a 'kaioraora', a cursing song to vent hatred at enemies. This song was because of deaths of some Ngāti Toa women by the iwi Ngāti Pou. Another song she created was about a triumphant moment at the battle of Waiorua on Kāpiti Island where she forced the enemy to degradate themselves.
