Anyone still interested in the 'origins' of Peneamine/Benjamin Te Kihi, I am still researching this matter. I have established through a certain manuscript kept in Archives New Zealand, Wellington office, that Te Kihi was given the patronym "Reko" or "Riko". His hapu/sub tribe affiliations are given as follows: Kai Tutekawa, Kai Tuna, Kai Turakautahi and Kati Huirapa. The hapu affiliations for his wife, Romia Titope, and her sister Pakinui Titope are as follows:Kati Huirapa, Kai Turakautahi, Kai Tutekawa, Kai Tuna and Kati Reitei. I have the whakapapa for all the lines relating to Romia and Pakinui where for example, Tuna is shown as the descendant of Tutekawa (Kati Mamoe/Ngati Kahungunu). Romia and Pakinui were also descendants of Te Maiwerohia, the great-grandson of Tutekawa. Further more, looking through some James Herries-Beattie notes some years back, there is a brief mention of Te Kihi as the "cousin" of Puao Jack Rakiraki's father, Haimona Rakiraki alias Rakitapu. This "Reko" should not be confused with Haimona's father of the same name. So far I am labouring under the notion the name is actually "Riko" and that it points to a relative of Haimona's called Te Urukaio alias Riko.
I am required to research this hypothesis further, but as of yet I am inclined to believe I am on the right track. Watch this space,....