NZHistory, New Zealand history online - potatau te wherowhero

King movement flags

The three flags depicted by W.F. Gordon on the left are those used by the King Movement to mark the appointment of Potatau Te Wherowhero as the first Maori King in 1857. Gordon drew the flags when they were flown at Mataitawa, Taranaki on the anniversary of Potatau's accession in 1862.

The two flags depicted on the right are believed to have been used by supporters of the Pai Marire faith in the 1860s.

Credit:

Collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: B.37907 W.F. Gordon, 3 Kingi flags, and two others

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Potatau Te Wherowhero

The first part of Te Wherowhero's adult life was spent almost constantly at war as his Waikato tribe drove Te Rauparaha's Ngāti Toa out of its Kāwhia homeland, defended its own land against repeated attacks from Northland's Ngā Puhi and made repeated attacks on the Taranaki tribes. (Read more about the 'Musket Wars').

Te Wherowhero refused to sign the Treaty of Waitangi but did deal with the colonial government. He sold land to the Crown and, in 1849, signed an agreement to provide military protection for Auckland. He advised Governors George Grey and Thomas Gore Browne, but he also strongly protested against a British Colonial Office plan to put all uncultivated land into Crown ownership.

In the 1850s, a movement was set up to appoint a Māori king who would unite the tribes, protect land from further sales and make laws for Māori to follow. Te Wherowhero became King in 1858. Though he didn't see his kingship as a direct challenge to the authority of the Queen, it was seen that way both by the colonial authorities and some of his supporters. He died after only two years as King and was succeeded by his son, Tāwhiao.

See also: biography of Potatau Te Wherowhero at DNZB website

Potatau Te Wherowhero

Ko te wehenga tuatahi o ngā rā o Te Wherowhero hei pakeke, ko ana pakanga i te wā o te pananga o Ngāti Toa me Te Rauparaha e Waikato, kia wehe atu i Kāwhia. Ka tū mārō hoki tōna iwi ki ngā kōkiri mai a Ngā Puhi, ā, ka hokia tonutia ngā ara pakanga e ōna ope taua ki runga o Taranaki.

Kāore rawa a Te Wherowhero i whakaae ki te haina i te Tiriti o Waitangi, engari i whiriwhiri tahi ia ki te Kāwanatanga o te Koroni. I hokona e ia ētahi whenua ki te Karauna, ā, i te tau 1849, ka hainatia tētahi kirimana kia riro māna ngā Pākehā o Tāmaki-makau-rau e tiaki ki ōna ope taua. He kaha tonu ia ki te tohutohu i ngā Kāwana nei, i a Hori Kerei rāua ko Koa Parāone, engari i whakahē ia ki ngā tikanga a te Tari o ngā Koroni kia whaowhia katoatia ngā whenua kāore i kōia hei māra ki roto i ngā ringaringa o te Karauna.

I te tekau tau mai i 1850, ka korikori te iwi ki te whakatū kīngi Māori, māna ngā iwi hei whakakotahi, hei tiaki kia kaua e ngaro ō rātou whenua te hoko, māna hoki e hanga ture tōtika mō te iwi Māori. Ka pōtaea a Te Wherowhero hei kīngi i te tau 1858. Ki te titiro a Te Wherowhero, ehara te kīngi Māori i te hoa tauwhāinga mō te Kuini, engari ia ngā mana o te Koroni me ētahi o ana kaitautoko, i rerekē ngā whakaaro. I mate a Te Wherowhero e rua tau i muri o tōna pōtaetanga, ā, ka piki tana tama, a Tāwhiao, hei kīngi.

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Death of the first Maori King

The Māori King movement came into existence in the late 1850s as an attempt to unite the tribes, prevent land sales and make laws for Māori. Pōtatau Te Wherowhero of Waikato was one of a number of chiefs who possessed the mana necessary for this role. He was appointed as the first Māori King in 1858, but died two years later.

Te Wherowhero’s early adult life was dominated by war. His Waikato tribe drove Te Rauparaha’s Ngāti Toa out of its Kawhia homeland and in turn had to defend its own land against repeated attacks by Northland’s Ngāpuhi. Waikato also made repeated attacks on the Taranaki tribes. Te Wherowhero had refused to sign the Treaty of Waitangi but did deal with the colonial government. He sold land to the Crown and, in 1849, signed an agreement to provide military protection for Auckland. He advised Governors George Grey and Thomas Gore Browne, but he also protested strongly against a British Colonial Office plan to put all uncultivated land into Crown ownership.

Te Wherowhero did not see his appointment as King as a direct challenge to the authority of Queen Victoria. But it was seen that way both by the colonial authorities and by some of his supporters. He died after only two years as King and was succeeded by his son, Tāwhiao.

Image: Pōtatau Te Wherowhero painted by George Angas

Potatau Te Wherowhero's pa

This 1847 George Angas painting shows Potatau Te Wherowhero's pa with Taupiri mountain in the background.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PUBL-0014-15
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

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Painting of Potatau Te Wherowhero and two other chiefs

In this 1847 painting by George Angas, Potatau is wrapped in a blanket and seated beside a log. On the right are Te Waru, principal chief of Ngati Apakura, and Te Pakaru, principal chief of Ngati Ti Maniapoto. All three men have full moko.

The first part of Te Wherowhero's adult life was spent almost constantly at war as his Waikato tribe drove Te Rauparaha's Ngati Toa out of its Kawhia homeland, defended its own land against repeated attacks from Northland's Ngapuhi and made repeated attacks on the Taranaki tribes.

Te Wherowhero refused to sign the Treaty of Waitangi, but he did deal with the colonial government. He sold land to the Crown and, in 1849, signed an agreement to provide military protection for Auckland. He advised Governors George Grey and Thomas Gore Browne, but he also strongly protested against a British Colonial Office plan to put all uncultivated land into Crown ownership.

In the 1850s, Te Wherowhero emerged as a popular candidate in the move to appoint a Maori king who would unite the tribes, protect land from further sales and make laws for Maori to follow. Te Wherowhero became Maori King in 1858. Though he didn't see his kingship as a direct challenge to the authority of the Queen, it was seen that way by both the colonial authorities and some of his supporters. He died after only two years as King and was succeeded by his son, Tawhiao.

Read more about Potatau Te Wherowhero

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PUBL-0014-44
Further information and copies of this image may be obtained from the Library through its 'Timeframes' website, http://timeframes.natlib.govt.nz
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.

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Potatau Te Wherowhero - Maori King movement

Potatau agrees to be king

Potatau Te Wherowhero

In April 1857, at Rangiriri, Potatau agreed to become king. He was crowned and anointed at Ngaruawahia in June 1858.

At his installation, many chiefs of the North Island laid their lands and service at Potatau's feet. Many mountains, the pou (boundaries) of the Rohe Potae (Kingitanga territory), were named as the guardians of the territory under Potatau's dominion. Potatau's subjects hoped to keep the lands and their communities together by removing the temptation of ready money through selling. These lands were to become the 'Crown lands' of the Maori kingdom.

In his speech of acceptance Potatau stressed the spirit of unity symbolised by the kingship, likening his position to the 'eye of the needle through which the white, black and red threads must pass'. He called on his people to 'hold fast to love, to the law, and to faith in God'.

Maori also saw the Kingitanga as a spiritual force carried from marae to marae. Its symbols, such as the king's flags, the pataka (carved storehouses) and runanga (tribal council) houses, the mountains and boundaries, were imbued with tapu (sacredness) and the mana (authority) of the kingdom.

What's in a name?

A number of titles were considered for this new position, including 'Father of the Tribes', Ariki Taungaroa (chief of chiefs), Toihau (supreme head) and Rangatira (chief). Critics complained that there was nothing original about the Kingitanga and that it was simply copying the British monarchy. Te Moananui of Hawke's Bay, however, argued that as there were many chiefs, the title king should be used – the position had to be unique and the title needed to set the leader apart from others.

Why Potatau?

Waikato was rich in resources and was strategically placed in the centre of the island, surrounded by all the most powerful tribes. Any king and his people had to be able to sustain the burden of continuous hospitality on a grand scale, so Waikato's level of resources was key. Potatau himself was a great warrior and in recent times was seen as the protector of the tribes of the Auckland isthmus. His status and mana was not only personal but also derived from his kin connections with many iwi. He had mana in some European circles, enjoying good relations with successive governors. As early as 1841, Governor William Hobson had reported to London that Potatau was the most powerful chief in New Zealand.

The death of Potatau

In June 1860 King Potatau died at his home in Ngaruawahia and was succeeded by his son Tawhiao. Tawhiao would face many challenges during his reign, in particular war and the subsequent confiscation of land as the Kingitanga clashed head-on with the European government.

In search of a king - Maori King movement

A candidate is found

The Kingitanga has often been described as a Waikato initiative, yet its origins can be traced to Otaki on the Kapiti coast.

In search of a king – interactive map

In 1852 Tamihana Te Rauparaha, son of the powerful Ngati Toa chief, met Queen Victoria in England. When he returned home he sought to establish a monarchy for Maori. He believed that Maori would be better off if they could achieve unity beyond that of the tribe. As individual tribes they were susceptible to divide and rule in the face of European colonisation.

Te Rauparaha's cousin, Matene Te Whiwhi (Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Toa), investigated the ancestry of possible candidates for the kingship. He then travelled around the North Island to persuade suitable chiefs to put themselves forward for the position. Most of the prominent chiefs he approached declined. Te Kani-a-Takirau of the North Island's east coast best summed up the problem Te Whiwhi experienced in his quest when he said:

You are correct, I am a chief, a descendant of your ancestors. However, the problem is that my pedigree adheres to only one people. My mountain, Hikurangi, does not move. I do not agree.

Powerful chiefs like Iwikau Te Heuheu Tukino III of Ngati Tuwharetoa refused on two occasions and instead suggested Potatau Te Wherowhero of Ngati Mahuta (Waikato).

Wiremu Tamihana

The elderly Potatau Te Wherowhero was approached several times. In February 1857 the Ngati Haua leader Wiremu Tamihana increased the pressure on him to accept. Wiremu Tamihana had been left waiting at the government's Native Office in Auckland for two days, watching as Europeans who visited the office were immediately attended to. He told the Taupiri missionary B.Y. Ashwell: 'We are treated like dogs – I will not go again. I then went to Mangere and I said to Potatau – go back to Waikato and let us consider some tikanga [rules] for ourselves.'

Wiremu Tamihana has often been described as 'the Kingmaker'. His ability to provide the Kingtanga with a clear, logical agenda was vital to its establishment, but he was only one among the many kingmakers.

The search for a king - Maori King movement map

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Map tracing the journey taken to select the first Maori king, Potatau Te Wherowhero.

Ministry for Culture and Heritage
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