Parengaope (c. 1765 – ?) was a Māori high chieftainess of Ngāti Koura, a hapū (subtribe) of the Waikato tribal confederation. She was the wife of Te Rauangaanga and mother of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, the first Māori king and grandmother of King Tāwhiao.

Life

Parengaope was born at Te Rapa pā near present-day Hamilton. She was a direct descendant of Hotumauea, a noted war chief of Ngāti Koura who was an outstanding warrior and acquired vast tracts of land within the Waikato basin.

Parengaope

Her father was Tokohihi, and his father was Pakaruwakanui, the son of Hotumauea. Her mother was Paretewa, and the mother of Paretewa was Kuiatu.

Parengaope

She was present during the battle of Matakitaki in 1822 at Pirongia when the musket-armed northern Ngāpuhi tribes under Hongi Hika attacked the Waikato tribes. Parengaope escaped along with other members of Potatau's family during the attack on Matakitaki.

Parengaope

Notes

Musket Wars

1760s births

Year of death unknown

Waikato Tainui people

People from Waikato

Women in 19th-century warfare

Women in war in Oceania

19th-century women rulers

19th-century New Zealand people