Ruapani

All lines of Horouta waka aristocracy converged eight generations after its landfall, at Te Wherowhero Lagoon, upon Ruapani.  Born into an influential whānau, Ruapani was taught specialised tasks and knowledge concerning the protection and survival of his people.  His full name, Wairua-pani-o-te-ora, even embodies attributes of leadership; the disseminator of peace, goodwill and well-being.  Ruapani had three wives who between them gave him numerous children including sets of twins and triplets.  He had a great pa known as Popoia, on the western bank of the Waipaoa River at Waituhi. Tūranganui-a-Kiwa saw no threats of war, suffered no unrest nor struggle while under the reign of Ruapani.  However, he did not live there permanently and eventually left Tūranganui-a-Kiwa for Waikaremoana and this opened the door to younger, eager chiefs hoping to lay claim to new opportunities. On his death at Waikaremoana, Ruaroa returned his grandfather home and interred his remains in the sacred Te Ana-o-Kohurau at Wharekōrero.