Was Te Kooti's chief scout. Fought against the British troops at Puke-takauere, Taranaki, in 1860, and was one of the defenders of Orakau pa in 1864. He was captured at the engagement at Omarunui, near Napier, in 1866, and was transported to Chatham Islands with the other Hauhau prisoners. He escaped with Te Kooti in the 'Rifleman' in 1868, and founght against the Colonial forces until 1870. He lived at Murupara with his wife's people, of Ngati Manawa. Cowan said he was around 80 years old at the time he interviewed him in 1921. He wrote an article in the New Zealand Railways Magazine, volume 12, issue 11 (February 1938) about him, called 'Te Kooti's Scout: A Maori warrior's story...' According to information on the back of file print of PAColl-3033-1-09: "Pieta Kotuku fought against the British troops at Puke-takauere, Taranaki, in 1860, and was one of the defenders of Orakau Pa in 1864. He was captured at the engagement at Oma[r?]unui, near Napier, in 1866, and was transported to Chatham with Te Kooti in the "Rifleman" in 1868, and fought against the colonial forces until 1870. He was one of Te Kooti's best warriors and scouts."
Kotuku, Peita, active 1860-1920
Notebook relating to Cowan's trip to Murupara
Date: 1920
From: Cowan, James, 1870-1943 : Papers
Reference: MSX-9074
Description: Notebook containing Cowan's research notes titled 'Trip to Murupara'. Contains research notes about New Zealand Wars in the Urewera, Bay of Plenty/Rotorua and Taranaki regions. Contains interview notes from Lieutenant Hutzel and George Preece, Peita Kotuku and 'Lochiel' of Rotorua. Includes some notes about the Pungarehu fight of 1866 including a sketch of the layout of Pungarehu based on Hutzel's memories. Also includes sketches of Mokoia Island and Kaingaroa, and a sketch and names of divisions of Lake Rotorua for the purposes of fishing. Language - Contains some Maori content, particularly waiata and place names. Arrangement: 53 in original listing Quantity: 1 volume(s). Pencil sketches of places including Pungarehu, Mokoia, Kaingaroa Plain and one titled 'Waiting for taewa & tea'.
Pieta Kotuku, at Taringamotu
Date: 1921
From: Cowan, James, 1870-1943 :Collection of photographs
Reference: PAColl-3033-1-09
Description: Pieta Kotuki, photographed at Taringamotu in 1921 by James Cowan. Inscriptions: Verso - The man who shot Donald McDonald at Heriwi? June 7 or 8 1869 Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).