Te Rauparaha
In 1848, Te Rauparaha who had just returned to Ōtaki issued the challenge of building the church to the chief of Ngāti Wehi Wehi, who accepted. Te Rauparaha thrust into the ground a sword he had been given by Governor George Grey, saying: "Tokina to mea nei. Kua mutu taku ruri ki te Whenua. Ka ruri au ki te Rangihoatu. Hanga he whare karakia ma tatau.’ [Come and take possession of this weapon. I no more seek honour on earth. I seek honour in heaven. Go to and build us a church.] Rangiātea Church was built under the direction of Te Rauparaha and English missionary Octavius Hadfield. Te Rauparaha died in 1849 and contemporary sources say he was buried near the front of the church, though he may have later been secretly reinterred on Kapiti Island.