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Revision as of 00:46, 2 December 2012 edit122.62.226.243 (talk) details of Waitara land ownership← Previous edit Revision as of 07:11, 2 December 2012 edit undoDaveosaurus (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users2,604 edits None of the references supplied are sufficient for such extreme claimsNext edit →
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'''Wiremu Kingi Te Rangitake''' (c. 1795 – 13 January 1882), ] Chief of the ] Tribe, was leader of the Māori forces in the ]. '''Wiremu Kingi Te Rangitake''' (c. 1795 – 13 January 1882), ] Chief of the ] Tribe, was leader of the Māori forces in the ].


Wiremu Kingi was involved in the major disturbances and migrations caused by the ]. He and his father probably fought alongside ] who was invading the Manawatu after his defeat and retreat from Kawhia to Waikanae. However, he is mainly associated with ] in Northern Taranaki. Wiremu Kingi was involved in the major disturbances and migrations caused by the ]. He and his father probably fought alongside ] during his tribe's journey from Kawhia to Waikanae. However, he is mainly associated with ] in Northern Taranaki.


In 1839 Colonel ] toured the area and persuaded the Māori chiefs to sign various deeds that transferred ownership of most of the tribal land to the ]. In 1839 Colonel ] toured the area and persuaded the Māori chiefs to sign various deeds that transferred ownership of most of the tribal land to the ]. To what extent this was deliberate fraud and to what extent it was an example of two cultures failing to understand each other is hard to say. However, the transaction was to cause a great deal of trouble and eventually led the two people to war.


The Taranaki tribe of Te Āti Awa accepted the changes brought about by the arrival of the ] and their new government as they were keen to benefit from modern technology and trade opportunites. In May 1840 their chiefs signed the ] and in 1843–1844 they built a large and beautiful church for the missionaries. On 31 January 1842 the whole of Northern Taranaki from Cape Egmont northwards to the Tongaporutu River was purchased by the crown from Kati Te Wherowhero, who later became the first Maori king. The deed was printed in both English and Maori. The price paid was 150 pounds, 2 horses, 2 saddles, 2 bridles and 100 blankets. The land sold to the government included all the land around Waitara which was under the mana of Te Wherowhero. However, disenchantment began when the Land Commissioner, William Spain, awarded the ] settlers 200&nbsp;km² of tribal land around New Plymouth. Wiremu Kingi wrote to Governor ] making it clear that they would not yield tribal lands, particularly around Waitara,even though it had been abandoned by most of the tribe. Their case was weakened in because the bulk of the tribe were then living around ] about 250&nbsp;km to the south and had not lived at Waitara for 20 years. The only tribal member actually living on the land, Tiera and his 70 strong hapu, were keen to sell. Governor Grey went to visit the branch of Ngatiawa that lived at Queen Charlotte Sound and spoke to their chief Ropoama Te One, who confirmed that Wirimu Kingi did not own or control the Waitara land in question(on the north bank). The Queen Charlotte branch of Ngatiawa supported the sale of the land by Tiera.<ref>Appendix to journals of the House,1861,E-01,P 60</ref>Ropoama drew a map of Waitara's south bank showing Kingi's very small holdings there. However, despite opposition from the Government,and to force a confrontation, they returned to Taranaki in 1848 and settled around Waitara. Teira had negotiated a huge price of 1 pound per acre when the going rate was 1/6 per acre. On top of this he was to be paid a bonus of 250 pounds.<ref>The Great Divide.I Wishart.2012.P 231.</ref> Te Āti Awa initially accepted the changes brought about by the arrival of the ] and their new government. In May 1840 their chiefs signed the ] and in 1843–1844 they built a large and beautiful church for the missionaries. On 31 January 1842 the whole of Northern Taranaki from Cape Egmont northwards to the Tongaporutu River was purchased by the crown from Kati Te Wherowhero, who later became the first Maori king. The deed was printed in both English and Maori. The price paid was 150 pounds, 2 horses, 2 saddles, 2 bridles and 100 blankets. The land sold to the government included all the land around Waitara which was under the mana of Te Wherowhero. However, disenchantment began when the Land Commissioner, William Spain, awarded the ] settlers 200&nbsp;km² of tribal land around New Plymouth. Wiremu Kingi wrote to Governor ] making it clear that they would not yield their tribal lands, particularly around Waitara. Their case was weakened in the minds of settlers because the bulk of the tribe were then living around ] about 250&nbsp;km to the south. However, despite opposition from the Government, they returned to Taranaki in 1848 and settled around Waitara.


Over the next 11 years the government and settlers made numerous attempts to acquire more of the tribal land, but were restricted to about 20&nbsp;km² around New Plymouth. Wiremu Kingi remained firm in his refusal to part with any of the tribal land. Gradually relations between the two peoples deteriorated. Archdeacon Octavius Hadfield,who became a staunch advocate of the Maori anti landsales position,took the view that the chief of a tribe,since he has no absolute right over the territory of the various hapu, nor over the lands of individual freemen of his own hapu,cannot sell any land but his own.<ref> Apendix A9 in Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives,1861"Opinion on Native Lands", p 12</ref> Over the next 11 years the government and settlers made numerous attempts to acquire more of the tribal land, but were restricted to about 20&nbsp;km² around New Plymouth. Wiremu Kingi remained firm in his refusal to part with any of the tribal land. Gradually relations between the two peoples deteriorated.


In 1859 another tribal chief, Teira, made an offer of some his land to Governor ]. Tiera was the owner of the particular block and had stayed behind to retain his mana over the land when Kingi and most of the tribe had fled south. Kingi who had lost all control of the land due to his long absence. In Maori lore his ahi kaa(cooking fires) had been well extinguished. Kingi tried to intimidate Tiera by killing one of his family. It was only after this use of violence to get his own way, that the government stepped in. The government accepted the offer despite warnings from many influential missionaries such as ] and a previous Chief Justice, ], that the purchase was would lead to trouble. In 1859 a minor tribal chief, Teira, who was feuding with Kingi, made an offer of some land directly to Governor ]. The government accepted the offer despite warnings from many influential missionaries such as ] and a previous Chief Justice, ], that the purchase was illegal.


The stakes grew as Kingi refused to budge. Prominent settlers called for him to be surrounded, deported and, if he fired one shot, hanged. The Government pressed ahead and sent in surveyors, declaring that once the survey was complete, the land would be occupied by the military to prevent any Māori occupation. They were blocked by the Te Atiawa people, so the army was sent in. The first shots of the ] were fired on 17 March 1860. The war lasted a year. Initially Maori forces were successful in driving settlers from the land. By the end of the year the army tactics had improved resulting in a serious defeat for Kingi. There followed an uneasy truce when the government agreed to re-examine the question and, three years later, Governor ] renounced the purchase about aweek before Taranaki tribes restarted the war in 1863 by ambushing British troops as they escorted a British defaulter along a beach near New Plymouth. Kingi went to the Waikato to join the Kingite attack on Auckland that started in late 1863. After a series of defeats in Auckland and at Kohero Ridge and Meremere, Kingi and other rebels retreated to Rangiriri Pa in Waikato which he helped to construct. However when the British gunboats appeared in the Waikato River at Rangiriri Pa, Kingi fled with all his men before the battle started. The stakes grew as Kingi refused to budge. Prominent settlers called for him to be surrounded, deported and, if he fired one shot, hanged. The Government pressed ahead and sent in surveyors, declaring that once the survey was complete, the land would be occupied by the military to prevent any Māori occupation. They were blocked by the Te Atiawa people, so the army was sent in. The first shots of the ] were fired on 17 March 1860. The war lasted a year and decided nothing except that the Māori were better tacticians than the ]. There followed an uneasy truce when the government agreed to re-examine the question and, three years later, Governor ] renounced the purchase.


After the war Kingi withdrew inland beyond the areas influenced by the Pākehā with the people of Ngati Maru at Manutangihia, in the upper reaches of the Waitara River. After 12 years he returned to New Plymouth to make his peace with the Pākehā government and later retired to ] where he lived with the prophet ] for several years. His last years were spent at Kaingaru near Waitara where he died on 13 January 1882. After the war Kingi withdrew inland beyond the areas influenced by the Pākehā with the people of Ngati Maru at Manutangihia, in the upper reaches of the Waitara River. After 12 years he returned to New Plymouth to make his peace with the Pākehā government and later retired to ] where he lived with the prophet ] for several years. His last years were spent at Kaingaru near Waitara where he died on 13 January 1882.

Revision as of 07:11, 2 December 2012

Wiremu Kīngi Te Rangitāke
BornWiremu Kingi Te Rangitake
1795 (1795)
Died(1882-01-13)13 January 1882
Kaingaru near Waitara
NationalityTe Āti Awa Māori
Occupation(s)Chief of the Te Āti Awa iwi and warrior

Wiremu Kingi Te Rangitake (c. 1795 – 13 January 1882), Māori Chief of the Te Āti Awa Tribe, was leader of the Māori forces in the First Taranaki War.

Wiremu Kingi was involved in the major disturbances and migrations caused by the Musket Wars. He and his father probably fought alongside Te Rauparaha during his tribe's journey from Kawhia to Waikanae. However, he is mainly associated with Waitara in Northern Taranaki.

In 1839 Colonel William Wakefield toured the area and persuaded the Māori chiefs to sign various deeds that transferred ownership of most of the tribal land to the New Zealand Company. To what extent this was deliberate fraud and to what extent it was an example of two cultures failing to understand each other is hard to say. However, the transaction was to cause a great deal of trouble and eventually led the two people to war.

Te Āti Awa initially accepted the changes brought about by the arrival of the Pākehā and their new government. In May 1840 their chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi and in 1843–1844 they built a large and beautiful church for the missionaries. On 31 January 1842 the whole of Northern Taranaki from Cape Egmont northwards to the Tongaporutu River was purchased by the crown from Kati Te Wherowhero, who later became the first Maori king. The deed was printed in both English and Maori. The price paid was 150 pounds, 2 horses, 2 saddles, 2 bridles and 100 blankets. The land sold to the government included all the land around Waitara which was under the mana of Te Wherowhero. However, disenchantment began when the Land Commissioner, William Spain, awarded the New Plymouth settlers 200 km² of tribal land around New Plymouth. Wiremu Kingi wrote to Governor Robert FitzRoy making it clear that they would not yield their tribal lands, particularly around Waitara. Their case was weakened in the minds of settlers because the bulk of the tribe were then living around Waikanae about 250 km to the south. However, despite opposition from the Government, they returned to Taranaki in 1848 and settled around Waitara.

Over the next 11 years the government and settlers made numerous attempts to acquire more of the tribal land, but were restricted to about 20 km² around New Plymouth. Wiremu Kingi remained firm in his refusal to part with any of the tribal land. Gradually relations between the two peoples deteriorated.

In 1859 a minor tribal chief, Teira, who was feuding with Kingi, made an offer of some land directly to Governor Thomas Gore Browne. The government accepted the offer despite warnings from many influential missionaries such as Octavius Hadfield and a previous Chief Justice, William Martin, that the purchase was illegal.

The stakes grew as Kingi refused to budge. Prominent settlers called for him to be surrounded, deported and, if he fired one shot, hanged. The Government pressed ahead and sent in surveyors, declaring that once the survey was complete, the land would be occupied by the military to prevent any Māori occupation. They were blocked by the Te Atiawa people, so the army was sent in. The first shots of the First Taranaki War were fired on 17 March 1860. The war lasted a year and decided nothing except that the Māori were better tacticians than the Pākehā. There followed an uneasy truce when the government agreed to re-examine the question and, three years later, Governor George Grey renounced the purchase.

After the war Kingi withdrew inland beyond the areas influenced by the Pākehā with the people of Ngati Maru at Manutangihia, in the upper reaches of the Waitara River. After 12 years he returned to New Plymouth to make his peace with the Pākehā government and later retired to Parihaka where he lived with the prophet Te Whiti o Rongomai for several years. His last years were spent at Kaingaru near Waitara where he died on 13 January 1882.

In 2004, the New Plymouth District Council resolved to sell 146 ha of land at Waitara to the Crown on condition that it was used in settlement of Te Atiawa claims under the Treaty of Waitangi. Leaseholders mounted unsuccessful legal opposition in 2008 and 2011.

See also

References

  1. "Court of Appeal Dismisses Waitara Leaseholder's Claim" (Press release). New Plymouth District Council. 24 August 2011.

External links

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