WÃÂhiao was a MÃÂori rangatira (chief) of the Tà «hourangi iwi in the Te Arawa confederation and the founding ancestor of the NgÃÂti WÃÂhiao hapà «. During his life, he led part of a war party in an attack on NgÃÂti Pikiao in revenge for the murder of his father and he recruited a war party to attack NgÃÂti Whakaue at Mokoia after their leading chief committed adultery with his wife. This war party was successful, but NgÃÂti Whakaue responded by assassinating WÃÂhiao and seizing his lands.
WÃÂhiao's father was Umukaria and his mother was Hinemaru. Through his father, he was a great-granddaughter of Taketakehikuroa and Uenukukà Âpako, the two sons of Tuhourangi, and thus a descendant of Tama-te-kapua, the captain of the Arawa. He had one brother, Te Koropunia, and one sister, Hinemoa, who would famously swim across Lake Rotorua to join her lover Tà «tÃÂnekai.
Tà «tÃÂnekai killed Morewhati and Tamakari, sons of Pikiao, so NgÃÂti Pikiao ambushed his people and killed Umukaria. Tà «tÃÂnekai therefore led a war party to attack Moura, a pàbelonging to NgÃÂti Pikiao on the shore of Lake Tarawera. He was joined in this expedition by WÃÂhiao, as well as Wharetokotoko of NgÃÂti Tama from Papohatu. This party went to Rotokakahi and killed the NgÃÂti Tuteata people whom they found there, including the chief Te Inanga. They carried on to Te Tawaroa (modern Kariri) on the shore of Lake Tarawera, where they found Umukaria's head abandoned in a cave, which they named Te Rua o Umukaria (Umukaria's cave). They found Ohorongo pàabandoned also.
Finally, the war party reached Moura. Late in the afternoon, they attacked the Moura and killed many people, including the chiefs Mokaikitariki, Tunoke, and Tutoa. Pikiao and his followers were not at Moura when it was taken, but at Te Puwha on the eastern side of Taraera. After the attack they moved to Matata, then to Otamarakau and Pukehina, before being invited to Te Puia on Rotoehu by Pikiao's friend Matarewha. WÃÂhiao settled at Pukeroa.
Tà «tÃÂnekai's son, Whatumairangi committed adultery with WÃÂhiao's wife, Uruhina. WÃÂhiao desired revenge but could not attack Whatumairangi directly, because he was his uncle. Therefore he went on a journey to recruit allies to help him. First he met with TarÃÂwhai and his son Te Rangitakaroro of NgÃÂti TarÃÂwhai at Lake Okataina. Then he went to Te Apiti of NgÃÂti Apumoana at Makatiti on Lake Tarawera, who had been involved in the murder of Umukaria. They made peace, sealed with a marriage alliance between WÃÂhiao's son and Te Apiti's daughter, and Te Apiti agreed to help WÃÂhiao get his revenge. WÃÂhiao now made his base at Te Uenga on the northeasterns hore of Lake Rotorua. Meanwhile Te Apiti led a war party to Okataina and from there to the Whakapoungakau hills, southeast of Rotorua. Whatumairangi led out a force and attacked the NgÃÂti Apumoana force at Rotokawa. He was killed in the ensuing battle.
The people on Mokoia island now wished to get revenge on WÃÂhiao for his role in the death of Whatumairangi. They sent Hinemoa to Te Uenga to make a peace agreement with WÃÂhiao and he received her positively. The following night, the people led a fleet of canoes out from Mokoia to the Ohau channel. Three of the men - Kiritako of Ngati Rangiteaorere, Te Hurunga of Ngati Whakaue, and Tukarewa of Ngati Rangiwewehi - hid inside a hut where WÃÂhiao kept his fishing nets. When WÃÂhiao came down to the hut the next morning to collect his nets, planning to catch some ënanga for a feast to celebrate the peace agreement, the three men ambushed and murdered him. Meanwhile, the rest of the war party attacked Te Uenga and captured it, as well as four other nearby settlements: Taupiri, Te Waerenga, Ngaukawakawa, and Te Reoreo.
A chief called Taiwhakaea led a war party of NgÃÂti Awa from Whakatane to get revenge for WÃÂhiao's death, but Kaiure and the people of Mokoia ambushed and defeated him in the Battle of Moanawaipu. Tuhourangi, NgÃÂti Awa, and NgÃÂti Tama made successful attacks on NgÃÂti Whakaue and Te Uri o Uenukukà Âpako in revenge.
WÃÂhiao married Uruhina, with whom he had children:
He also married Hinekete, with whom he had: