Background
He was the elder son of the fourth Māori King, Te Rata Mahuta, and Te Uranga Matai of the Ngāti Korokī tribe. He was named Korokī after the ancestor of his mother"s tribe. Korokī was born at Waahi, Huntly, on June 16, 1906.
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Koroki Mahuta
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He had a younger brother Taipu, who died in 1924, shortly after arriving at Wesley College. Korokī had a relationship with Te Paea Raihe, probably in the 1920s, and they had two daughters. Te Atairangikaahu had a daughter, Piki, born in 1931.
They adopted a son, Robert Mahuta, in 1939.
Korokī and his family lived at Waahi. Korokī"s father died on 1 October 1933, when Korokī was just 24.
He was chosen to succeed his father as king and accepted reluctantly. He was crowned on 8 October 1933, the day of his father"s funeral.
Two of his main confidants and supporters were Pei Te Hurinui Jones and Piri Poutapu.
On 30 December 1953 he received Queen Elizabeth II when she called at his official residence at Tūrangawaewae marae at Ngaruawahia during the coronation tour. He died at Ngaruawahia on 18 May 1966 and was buried on Mount Taupiri on 23 May. He was succeeded by Piki, who was given her mother"s name of Te Atairangikaahu at her coronation.
