Wiremu Tamihana
Wiremu Tamihana | |
---|---|
Born | c. 1805 |
Died | 27 December 1866 |
Nationality | Māori |
Wiremu Tamihana Tarapipipi Te Waharoa (c. 1805 – 27 December 1866), generally known as Wiremu Tamihana, was a leader of the Ngāti Hauā Māori iwi in nineteenth century New Zealand, and is sometimes known as the kingmaker for his role in the Māori King Movement.
Early life
Tarapipipi Te Waharoa, later known as Wiremu Tamihana, was born around 1805 at
In 1835, Tarapipipi met Reverend A. N. Brown, who had set up a Church Mission Society (CMS) station near the Matamata pā. He was taught to read and write in the Māori language and soon would become a key communicator for his father. He was still from time to time engaged in outbreaks of intertribal warfare, particularly against Te Arawa tribes; during one raid in the Rotorua region, he intervened to ensure the safety of two missionaries during the destruction of the CMS station at Ohinemutu by the Te Arawa tribe Ngāti Whakaue, with whom Ngāti Hauā was fighting. The conflict at this time led to Brown abandoning the CMS station at Matamata and shifting to Tuaranga but he continued to influence Tarapipipi with his Christian teachings.[1]
As chief
Following the death of his father in September 1838, Tarapipipi became a leader of Ngāti Hauā despite being the second oldest son. He quickly stamped his authority as chief, when he resisted efforts by his tribe to carry out raids against Te Arawa. In October 1838, wielding a bible and referring to Christian ideals, he made an impassioned plea at a hui of Tauranga and Ngāti Hauā Māori against war with Te Arawa. His efforts prevented a major battle between the tribes although there some isolated fighting.[1]
Soon after taking over as chief of Ngāti Hauā, Tarapipipi had founded a new pā near Matamata, naming it Te Tapiri with rules based on the
The replacement church was capable of holding up to a thousand people. There is no doubt Tamihana was a highly intelligent man with a creative mind keen to learn from the British. He also taught in a school, established farming in his community, and traded produce to
. He sold many acres of his tribal land that was swampy to the Scottish Morrin brothers who hired Irish navvies to dig ditches and drain the land and turn it into some of the most fertile dairy land in New Zealand.In the late 1850s, Tamihana was largely responsible for the establishment of the
Later life and legacy
In 1865 the
Tamihana became ill in July 1866 but despite this continued to play a role in tribal matters. He intervened in disputes between Tauranga Maori and surveyors and attend hearings at the Native Land Court. He died at Turanga-o-moana, near
Tamihana continues to be recognised today, with the NZ Herald naming him one of the 10 greatest New Zealanders of the past 150 years[4] and the new main connector road between SH21 (Airport Road) and Devine Road running along the public reserve in the heart of Tamahere bears his name : Wiremu Tamihana Drive.
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f Stokes, Evelyn. "Te Waharoa, Wiremu Tamihana Tarapipipi ? - 1866". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ Stokes, Evelyn. "Te Waharoa ? - 1838". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ^ Stock, Eugene (1913). "The Story of the New Zealand Mission". Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ^ "Our Wiremu Tamihana NZer of the Year". Tamahere Forum. 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2020-02-15.