Key personalities
Use the links to the biographies on the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (DNZB) website, below, to help you complete this activity.
A number of Maori and Pakeha played a significant role in the creation of and reaction to the Maori King movement. Their attitudes and actions are important in understanding events of this period.
For each of the following people, provide a pen portrait, i.e., a description in words, that examines the role each played in this story. There are images of and summaries about some of these people in the features on the King movement. Extensive biographies on all of them are available on the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography website, which you can get to from this page.
This is an ideal homework activity or revision exercise.
Use the following template to guide your writing. You can add more information if you want to.
Bullet points can help break up text into manageable bites, as can colour, so consider methods that will help you understand and recall this information.
- Write in the name of the person.
- Who was this person in relation to this story? For example, what was this person's position or title? What role did this person play in establishing or opposing the King movement?
- What actions did this person take to support or oppose the King movement?
- Why did this person take the actions they did in relation to the King movement?
Key personalities (links to biographies on the DNZB site):
- Potatau Te Wherowhero biography
- Tamihana Te Rauparaha biography
- Matene Te Whiwhi biography
- Te Heuheu Iwikau biography
- Wiremu Tamihana biography
- Tukaroto Matutaera Potatau Te Wherowhero Tawhiao biography
- Rewi Maniapoto biography
- Thomas Gore Browne biography
- George Grey biography
- Donald McLean biography
- John Gorst biography
