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Kingitanga The Short Story

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The Kngitanga (Mori King movement) is one of New Zealands longest-standing political institutions. Founded in 1858, it continues today.

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The idea of a King There was no single Mori sovereign when Europeans first came to New Zealand. Instead, Mori tribes functioned independently under the leadership of their own chiefs. However, by the 1850s Mori were faced with increasing numbers of British settlers, political marginalisation and growing demand from the Crown to purchase their lands. Mori were divided between those who were prepared to sell and those who were not.

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Some Mori attributed the power of the British to their one sovereign. This idea was particularly common among men who had travelled to England and had seen British institutions, industry and law and order in operation, such as Piri Kawau (Te ti Awa), who met Queen Victoria in 1843, and Tmihana Te Rauparaha (Ngti Toa), who met her in 1852. They believed that a pan-tribal movement, unifying the Mori people under one sovereign equal to the Queen of England, could bring an end to intertribal conflict, keep Mori land in Mori hands and provide a separate governing body for Mori.

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Both Kawau and Tmihana initially thought they might become king. However, Kawau had admitted to Queen Victoria that Ptatau Te Wherowhero of Waikato was the most powerful chief in New Zealand, while Tmihana was reminded by his father, the famous chief Te Rauparaha, that his people had been forced to leave Kwhia by the powerful Waikato.

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Origins Traditionally Mori had no centralised monarchy. Tribes were independent and were led by chiefs. In the 1850s there were growing numbers of European settlers and demand for Mori land, and Mori lacked political power. Some Mori wanted to unify the tribes under a sovereign. In 1853 Mtene Te Whiwhi and Tmihana Te Rauparaha began travelling round the North Island looking for a chief who would agree to become king. However, most chiefs declined.

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Reports to London In 1841 Governor William Hobson had reported to London that Ptatau was the most powerful chief in New Zealand. Mtene Te Whiwhi of Ngti Raukawa had canvassed the genealogical experts Te Hkiki Te Ahukaram and Te Whoi of Ngti Raukawa, who believed that Ptatau was the most suitable candidate. He had extensive genealogical connections with many iwi and his kingship could be well supported by the fertile lands and resources of the then wealthy Waikato. The wealth of Ptatau was important, as his people would host many gatherings.

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The reluctant 1 st King: Ptatau In 1856, at Pkawa, on the shores of Lake Taup, the Waikato chief Ptatau Te Wherowhero was nominated as king. At first he refused, but later agreed. In 1858 he was declared king at Ngruawhia. Declaring E Ta, kua t te r (o sir, the sun is about to set), meaning that he had not much longer to live.

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Hereditary Kingship In response to Ptatau comment it was suggested that on his passing (death) his son, Twhiao, could carry on the kingship, which might then become hereditary. With this idea, Ptatau accepted the kingship. On 25 June 1860 Ptatau died, at his home in Ngruawhia, within 2 years of his appointment.

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Twhiao, 18601894 When Ptatau died in 1860 his son, Twhiao, became king. Twhiao was proclaimed king on 5 th July 1860 under Ptataus investiture. The first two years of Twhiaos reign were dominated by war.

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The Waikato War Governor Thomas Gore Browne demanded Twhiao submit 'without reserve' to Queen Victoria. Meaning Mori were to pledge allegiance to Queen Victoria not Kingitanga. Browne viewed Waikato Mori as a problem; because Kingitanga were anti- landselling

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Waikato War Map

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Loss of Land In 1863 government troops invaded the Waikato, and war followed. Waikato were defeated, huge areas of their land were confiscated, and Twhiao and his followers retreated into the King Country. In 1881 they returned to Waikato. Twhiao worked unsuccessfully for the return of confiscated lands, and travelled to London in 1884 to look for support from Queen Victoria. He had no luck in London.

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Twhiao Returning home Twhiao began poukai, annual visits to Kngitanga marae, to comfort the widowed, bereaved and impoverished. This tradition still continues to take place. 30 marae hold poukai and are visited by the sovereign. Twhiao continued his quest for mana motuhake (Mori political independence), setting up the Kauhanganui, a parliament, in 1892. It had a council of 12 tribal representatives (the Tekau-m- rua), as well as ministers. Tupu Taingkawa, the second son of Wiremu Tmihana (and kingmaker at the time), was the tumuaki (premier). Twhiao was offered, and accepted, a government pension. There was much iwi concern about the implication that he had given up his independence, and the pension was paid back, with interest.

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Mahuta Mahuta became king in 1890 after the death of Twhiao, his father. In the 1890s the Kngitanga tried unsuccessfully to unite with the Kotahitanga (Mori parliament) movement. From 1903 to 1910 Mahuta was a member of the Legislative Council, appointed by Premier Richard Seddon.

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Te Rata and Te Puea Mahuta died in 1912 and his son, Te Rata, became king. Te Rata was often ill. In 1914 he and three others travelled to England. He met King George V, but was told that the land confiscations were an issue for the New Zealand government. Te Ratas cousin, Te Puea Hrangi, became a Kngitanga leader. She opposed participation in the First World War, and worked to rebuild an economic base and to establish Trangawaewae marae at Ngruawhia.

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Korok Korok reluctantly became king in 1933 after his father, Te Rata, died. At Trangawaewae he hosted important visitors, including Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

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Te tairangikaahu After Korok died in 1966, his daughter, Piki, was crowned as Queen Te tairangikaahu, the first Mori queen. She was made a dame in 1970. One of the most important achievements during her reign was when Tainui Waikato signed a settlement with the government in 1995 over the land confiscations. Te tairangikaahu died in August 2006. She was the longest- serving Mori monarch.

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Theitia Te tairangikaahus son Theitia became king in 2006.

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Biblography Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand http://www.teara.govt.nz/ en/kingitanga-the-maori- king-movement http://www.teara.govt.nz/ en/kingitanga-the-maori- king-movement NZ History http://www.nzhistory.net. nz/war/war-in-waikato