Ēpiha Pūtini

Ēpiha Pūtini (c. 1816 – 22 March 1856) , born Te Rangiata-Ahua Ngamuka and later known as Jabez Bunting was a prominent chief of Ngāti Tamaoho, who occupied the area south of Papatoetoe and through the Hunua Ranges to the Bombay Hills. As rangatira, Pūtini was involved in multiple land disputes and controversial land sales in the isthmus and south Manukau area during the 1830s and early 1840s, which led to an exchange of gunfire between individuals from Ngāti Tamaoho and neighbouring iwi Ngāti Te Ata, and resulted in several deaths on the side of Ngāti Te Ata. Pūtini is best remembered for his Wesleyan faith, which resulted in the establishment of the Ihumātao Mission Station, as well as his continued efforts to foster peace between Māori and European settlers.

Pūtini died unexpectedly on 22 March 1856. Following Pūtini's death, Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, the future Māori King, arranged for his body to be taken to Māngere, before being buried at Ihumātao. Putini's tangi (funeral) was attended by roughly 800 people, and he was mourned by both Māori and Pākehā. Pūtini's significance continued after his death, as during the exhumation of his bones at Ihumātao a great meeting was held, hosting between two and three thousand people, and is remembered as one of the key hui (meetings) that discussed the election of a Māori King, and ultimately, the creation of the Kingitanga.