Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui
Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Major Kemp |
Born | near Opiki, New Zealand |
Died | 15 April 1898 Putiki, New Zealand |
Buried | Putiki Urupa |
Allegiance | British Empire |
Years of service | 1864–1872 |
Rank | Major |
Unit |
|
Battles/wars | New Zealand War
|
Awards | New Zealand War Medal |
Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui NZC (died 15 April 1898) was a Māori military commander and noted ally of the government forces during the New Zealand Wars. First known as Te Rangihiwinui, he was later known as Te Keepa, Meiha Keepa, Major Keepa or Major Kemp.
Early life
Te Rangihiwinui's father was Mahuera Paki Tanguru-o-te-rangi, a leader of the
In 1848, Te Keepa was a constable in the Armed Police Force, and was likely serving at Waikane under the command of Major but a few years later was based at Whanganui. Along with other constables, he carried mail between Wellington and the Taranaki region, work that was in addition to their policing role.[1]
Second Taranaki War
In 1864, the Māori tribes on the Upper Whanganui River converted to the Pai Mārire religion and threatened to invade Whanganui town. Te Keepa led the tribes of the lower river to defend the town. The result was the Battle of Moutoa Island and a substantial defeat for the Pai Mārire force on 14 May 1864.[1]
This was the start of six years of warfare for Te Keepa, always fighting on the side of the
Te Keepa gradually built up a personal contingent of between one and two hundred warriors, men who were paid by the government but whose loyalty was to him and his
Pursuit of Te Kooti
As soon as Titokowaru ceased to be a threat, Te Keepa and his men were transported to the East Coast to join in the pursuit of
The final pursuit of Te Kooti through the
Later life
In 1871 Te Keepa was appointed as a land purchase officer in Whanganui. He saw this as an opportunity to correct some of the wrongs done to his people during his childhood, a chance to regain some of the land they had lost to the Ngati Raukawa by conquest. This almost brought the tribes to war, Te Keepa threatened to call upon his personal following of warriors if the government did not back up his decisions. There were some violent clashes before the issue went in his favour.[1]
The same year he contested the Western Maori electorate in the 1871 election, the second time that elections in Māori electorates were held. Of three candidates, he came second, with Wiremu Parata winning the election and the incumbent, Mete Kīngi Paetahi, coming last.[2] He was one of three candidates in the Western Maori electorate in the 1876 election, when he came second. He was beaten by Hoani Nahi and was ahead of the incumbent, Wiremu Parata.[3][4][5]
In 1880, Te Keepa set up a Māori trust to protect Māori land from European buyers. A large area of inland Wanganui was declared off limits to all Europeans. This provoked the government, but Te Keepa's large personal following of warriors meant they were very cautious in dealing with him. In addition, he had the support of some members of the government, including the Native Minister, John Ballance.[1] He unsuccessfully contested the Western Maori electorate in the 1884 election. Of eight candidates, he came second with 20.1% of the vote.[6]
Land dealings in his later years added stresses and caused debts. He sought to unify the Maori tribes in the Te Kotahitanga (unity of purpose) movement, and force government adherence to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. In a speech he made in March 1889 at Ōrākei he urged the government to work with Te Kotahitanga but this was rejected. Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui died at Putiki, near Whanganui, on 15 April 1898.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Dreaver, Anthony. "Te Rangihiwinui, Te Keepa". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
- Wanganui Herald. Vol. IV, no. 1100. 23 February 1871. p. 2. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
- OCLC 154283103.
- ^ "Wanganui". Auckland Star. Vol. VII, no. 1850. 21 January 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
- Bay Of Plenty Times. Vol. IV, no. 351. 19 January 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
- ^ "The Western Maori Election". Waikato Times. Vol. XXIII, no. 1885. 5 August 1884. p. 3. Retrieved 15 March 2014.