Early Life:
Hongi, Hariata, 1815-1894, Rongo, Harriet, 1815-1894, Rongomai, Hariata, 1815-1894
Born in 1815. Daughter of Hongi Hika. Married Hone Heke Pokai in Kerikeri chapel on 30 Mar 1837. There were no children from this marriage. She was a forceful character, inheriting much of her father’s drive and self-confidence. Hariata had lived for some years with the family of James Kemp, a CMS missionary. Married later on Arama Karaka Pi (d 1872), whom she also survived as his widow. She died on 9 Jan 1894 at Kaikohe, Northland.
What she did do?
Daughter of famous Ngāpuhi chief Hongi Hika and his senior wife Turikatuku.
For several years Rongo lived with James and Charlotte Kemp, who were with the Church Missionary Society in Kerikeri. When her father got sick she nursed him until his death. Rongo then attended the Mission School for Māori Girls at Kerikeri. Here she became literate in both languages. With her intelligence, she was equal to some men and superior to many
In March 1837, Rongo (then going by the Christian name Hariata Rongo) married Ngāpuhi warrior leader Hōne Heke in the Kerikeri Chapel. Hōne Heke soon after became famous for his stand against the British authorities.
With a good education from the missionaries, Rongo served as Hōne Heke’s secretary and scribe and was active throughout the treaty war of 1845, supporting her husband in the field and acting as a conduit between him and his enemy, the pro-British warrior Tāmati Wāka Nene. Some scholars believe there is evidence that some of the correspondence was written by Rongo.