Editing Te Kooti (section)

==Early life==
Te Kooti's early years are obscure. He was born at Te Pā-o-Kahu in the [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]] region as a son of Hōne Rangipātahi (father) and Hine Turākau (mother), of the [[Rongowhakaata]] tribe ([[iwi]]).<ref name="DNZB Te Kooti">{{DNZB|Binney|Judith|1T45|Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki biography|19 February 2016||Judith Binney}}</ref> Their sub-tribe ([[hapū]]) was Ngāti Maru, whose villages were situated near the [[Awapuni lagoon]], where the [[Waipaoa River]] runs into the ocean.<ref name=Beau9>Binney, ''Redemption Songs'', p 16; Beaufoy, 2006, p 9</ref> Arikirangi is thought to be the original name of Te Kooti. His birth date is thought to be approximately 1832.<ref name="Binney, Redemption Songs, p 16">Binney, ''Redemption Songs'', p 16</ref>

Toiroa Ikariki (Ikarihi), a matakite (visionary) of Nukutaurua on [[Māhia Peninsula]], prophesied the birth of Te Kooti (as well as the coming of white people, the {{lang|mi|[[Pākehā]]}}):
{{Quote box |quote  = Tiwha tiwha te pō.<br>Ko te Pakerewhā<br>Ko Arikirangi tenei ra te haere nei.<br><br>Dark, dark is the night.<br>There is the Pakerewhā<br>There is Arikirangi to come. |width=50%
|align=center|| halign=center}}

The song is dated 1766. The ''Pakerewhā'' were strangers with red or white skin and Arikirangi was a grandchild of Toiroa, still to be born.<ref>Binney, ''Redemption Songs'', p 11</ref>

''Te Kooti'' is understood to be his Christian baptismal name.<ref name="Binney, Redemption Songs, p 16"/>

Te Kooti was apparently a very troublesome boy to his father, who tried to kill him. In 1852, he became notorious as one of a group of young Māori causing trouble in the Gisborne district. He took on the role of a "social bandit", breaking into settlers' homes and stealing goods as part of a plunder party.<ref>Binney, ''Redemption Songs'', p 21</ref> He was sent to the Mission School at Whakatō, near [[Manutuke|Manutūkē]]. In 1846–1847 he was taught by Samuel Williams. Samuel and his uncle, [[William Williams (bishop)|William Williams]] "helped the boy to find a new world in the Bible".<ref>Mitcalfe, 1963, p 46</ref>

But his reputation was still suffering, also after contacts with the Reverend [[Thomas Samuel Grace]], who was to replace [[William Williams (bishop)|William Williams]] for a few years (1850–1853). Local chiefs were asked by settlers to work with the local runanga (Māori council) to solve problems with Te Kooti but Te Kooti's men persisted in taking pigs, horses, cattle and alcohol, angering the runanga run by senior chiefs. As a result, Te Kooti's [[Pā (Māori)|pā]] was attacked by [[Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki]]. Many prisoners were taken but Te Kooti escaped.<ref>Binney, ''Redemption Songs'', p 22</ref>

He had to leave home and went to sea on different ships that traded along the coasts of the [[North Island]].{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}