During the century 12 BC there were 2 warriors, Tangiia from Tahiti and Karika from Samoa who were at sea in search of the island which we now know as Rarotonga. In the past, Rarotonga was also known as Tumu-Te-Varovaro and before that Nukutere. they saw each other approaching on the horizon, and Tangiia told the men on his canoe (vaka) to go below deck. Tangiia had about 200 people on his canoe So as they drew closer to each other, Karika noticed that there was only women on Tangiia's canoe. When they discovered that each was in search of the same island, they engaged in what we call 'putoto' which is sort of like tug-o-war, but instead of pulling a rope, they pushed each others canoes. As you would expect Karika was winning. Tangiia waited until Karika's men had used up a lot of their strength, then he called his men to get up and paddle In resignation, Karika gave Tangiia the directions as to how to get to Rarotonga. So off Tangiia went in search of Rarotonga. The further they went the more Tangiia noticed that it was getting much cooler, so he dipped his hand in the sea and it was cold indeed, much colder than he expected where Rarotonga would be, so he knew he had been duped, they had gone too far south. That is where the name Rarotonga (which means down south) came from. So he quickly ordered his crew to turn around and they went north again only to come across Karika again and in view of Rarotonga. So they engaged in another pushing war and after several days, neither winning, they decided to split Rarotonga in half. So they decided that Tangiia would get the half which had Takitumu (includes the villages, Titikaveka, Ngatangiia and Matavera) and Karika would get Te-Au-O-Tonga which is on the town side of Rarotonga. But note that Rarotonga was already inhabited when these two arrived. Tangiia and Karika were welcomed by the native Rarotongan's and even married chiefs daughters
In the eighteenth century the Makea title was divided into three branches.1 This division occurred as a result of the then title-holder elevating the eldest son of each of his three wives to the rank of ariki. Though all were of equal rank, The island of Rarotonga, which is the centre of government and is divided into three large districts or Vaka known as Te-au-o-Tonga with three Paramount Chiefs: Makea Nui Ariki, Makea Karika Ariki and Makea Vakatini Ariki. The Vaka of Takitumu has two Paramount Chiefs: Pa Ariki and Kainuku Ariki while the Vaka Puaikura has one Paramount Chief: Tinomana Ariki.Each Paramount Chief is supported by sub-district chiefs known as �Mataiapo� and another ranking of chiefs known as �Rangatira�. �
I MAKEA KARIKA I
II MAKEA KARIKA PUTAKI-TE-TAI
III MAKEA KARIKA TE ARIKI- AKA-MATAKU
IV MAKEA KARIKA TE-ATUA-REREAO
V MAKEA KARIKA TE ARIKI-I-TE-AU
VI MAKEA KARIKA TE ARIKI-NOO-MARIE
VII MAKEA KARIKA TAMA- PURETU
VIII MAKEA KARIKA PEAU-RONGO
IX MAKEA KARIKA TE-KONAKO
X MAKEA KARIKA TE-TAITI
XI MAKEA KARIKA TE-RA-TU
XII MAKEA KARIKA TE-ARIKI-APE-TINI RONGO-OE
XIII MAKEA KARIKA TEINA
XIV MAKEA KARIKA TAUIRA-ARIKI
XV MAKEA KARIKA TUKE-RAE
XVI MAKEA KARIKA TA-RUIA
XVII MAKEA KARIKA TE-RANGI-TU-KI-VAO
XVIII MAKEA KARIKA RANGI MAKEA
XIX MAKEA KARIKA TE-PATUA-KINO
A DUAL IN LEADERSHIP, SENIOR MAKEA-NUI AND JUNIOR MAKEA KARIKA
SENIOR
XX MAKEA-NUI PINI
XXI MAKEA-NUI TINIRAU
XXII MAKEA-NUI PORI
XXIII MAKEA-NUI DAVIDA
XXIV MAKEA-NUI TE-VAIRUA
XXV MAKEA-NUI DANIELA
XXVI MAKEA-NUI ABELA
XXVII MAKEA-NUI TAKAU
XXVIII MAKEA-NUI MANA
XXIX MAKEA-NUI TEREMONA
XXX MAKEA-NUI KARIKAIII
XXXI MAKEA-NUI TUPOU FAIROA
XXXIIMAKEA-NUI INANUI LOVE-NIA
JUNIOR
XX MAKEA KARIKA KEU
XXI MAKEA KARIKA TEKAO
XXII MAKEA KARIKA II
XXIII MAKEA KARIKA PA TUAIVI
XXIV MAKEA KARIKA TAVAKE
XXV MAKEA KARIKA TAKAU TUARAUPOKO MOKOROA-KI-AITU OBE
XXVI MAKEA KARIKA PA GEORGE DCM
XXVII MAKEA KARIKA TAKAU MARGARET MBE
