Page 6 - Te Tarata Booklet
P. 6
Te Tarata - Ōpōtiki - Whakatōhea
150 Year Commemoration
FoReWoRd
W hen the Māori King was elected in 1858, he
declared loyalty to the British Crown and
peaceful coexistence with the Governor. The King
declared the Managtāwhiri stream as the boundary
between him and the Governor.
In 1860 Governor Gore Browne waged an unjust war
in Taranaki to enforce the sale of the Pekapeka Block
against the wishes of the rangatira Wiremu Kingi.
Whakatōhea sent emissaries to discover the cause of the
war but remained neutral.
In 1863 Governor Grey invaded the Waikato and waged an unjust war to put
down the Māori King. Waikato-Tainui sought assistance from the East Coast
tribes whereupon Whakatōhea declared support for the Māori King. For that
they were declared ‘rebels’ when they were freedom ighters defending their
land.
In 1865 upwards of 200 Pai Mārire converts to the Hauhau cult of freedom
ighters from Taranaki and Whakatāne were welcomed in Ōpōtiki by an
assembly of 800 Whakatōhea people. Their leader was Kereopa Te Rau of
Ngāti Rangiwewehi (Te Arawa).
Kereopa’s wife and two daughters were killed in the Waikato war when
troops ired upon and burnt the church at Rangiaowhia while they were at
worship. The minister was blamed for the tragedy, so Kereopa sought utu
against the Anglican priest in Ōpōtiki. He ordered the execution of Volkner, the
decapitation of his head and the drinking of his blood in the church chalice.
Mokomoko was wrongly executed for Kereopa’s crime and Whakatōhea
punished by the coniscation of 144,000 acres of land between Ōhiwa and The
Waiaua River.
The Crown has yet to compensate Whakatōhea for the loss of life (35 at Te
Tarata), property, homes, villages, family heirlooms, tools, ships, agricultural
equipment, crops, livestock, harbours, rivers mahinga kai resources, forests
and Ōpōtiki the capital of Whakatōhea. - Professor Ranginui Walker
6 He Rā Maumaharatanga
150 Year Commemoration
FoReWoRd
W hen the Māori King was elected in 1858, he
declared loyalty to the British Crown and
peaceful coexistence with the Governor. The King
declared the Managtāwhiri stream as the boundary
between him and the Governor.
In 1860 Governor Gore Browne waged an unjust war
in Taranaki to enforce the sale of the Pekapeka Block
against the wishes of the rangatira Wiremu Kingi.
Whakatōhea sent emissaries to discover the cause of the
war but remained neutral.
In 1863 Governor Grey invaded the Waikato and waged an unjust war to put
down the Māori King. Waikato-Tainui sought assistance from the East Coast
tribes whereupon Whakatōhea declared support for the Māori King. For that
they were declared ‘rebels’ when they were freedom ighters defending their
land.
In 1865 upwards of 200 Pai Mārire converts to the Hauhau cult of freedom
ighters from Taranaki and Whakatāne were welcomed in Ōpōtiki by an
assembly of 800 Whakatōhea people. Their leader was Kereopa Te Rau of
Ngāti Rangiwewehi (Te Arawa).
Kereopa’s wife and two daughters were killed in the Waikato war when
troops ired upon and burnt the church at Rangiaowhia while they were at
worship. The minister was blamed for the tragedy, so Kereopa sought utu
against the Anglican priest in Ōpōtiki. He ordered the execution of Volkner, the
decapitation of his head and the drinking of his blood in the church chalice.
Mokomoko was wrongly executed for Kereopa’s crime and Whakatōhea
punished by the coniscation of 144,000 acres of land between Ōhiwa and The
Waiaua River.
The Crown has yet to compensate Whakatōhea for the loss of life (35 at Te
Tarata), property, homes, villages, family heirlooms, tools, ships, agricultural
equipment, crops, livestock, harbours, rivers mahinga kai resources, forests
and Ōpōtiki the capital of Whakatōhea. - Professor Ranginui Walker
6 He Rā Maumaharatanga
