Ihaia Te Kirikumara was a chief of the Otaraua hapu of Te Ati Awa. He was born in Taranaki; his father was Piriraukura. During his early life Te Kirikumara took part in many of the intertribal wars involving his people. Otaraua fought against a northern war expedition in November 1821 or early 1822, when the Taranaki tribes helped Te Rauparaha to defeat the Waikato tribes at Motunui. Retaliation came in 1831 when the Waikato tribes invaded Taranaki and captured Pukerangiora pa, on the Waitara River. Te Kirikumara escaped from Pukerangiora. He took part in a revenge attack against the Ngati Maniapoto pa of Motu-taua at Mokau in March 1832. Waikato again invaded Taranaki and Te Kirikumara was among those who were besieged at Miko-tahi, an island pa near present day New Plymouth, in 1833. Under the terms of the truce Te Kirikumara and other Te Ati Awa went to Waikato as captives. There he was probably baptised, and took the name Ihaia (Isaiah).
He supported Te Teira's sale of Waitara land to the government and when war began in March 1860 he assisted the government. On 27 June 1860 he guided British troops into position before the attack on Puke-ta-kauere pa. Although the British were severely defeated, Ihaia was praised for his part in the operation. In 1869 he helped raise Maori troops to fight Titokowaru and advised the government on Maori matters.

Ihaia Te Kirikumara is said to have died on 9 July 1873, at Wakatere pa on the Waitara River, from consumption. He was interred at the burial ground of his people at Te Karaka

Source: http://www.dnzb.govt.nz