Page 9 - Te Tarata Booklet
P. 9
150 Year Commemoration
him, they refused. At Ōpōtiki Kereopa his neck. He was taken to a willow
asked Whakatōhea to expel the trader tree a short distance from his church
Morris Levy, he was refused. Hira Te and hanged. After the hanging, he was
Popo ‘spoke doubtfully’, decapitated. His blood
so Whakatōhea rejected “The Governor is was drained into the
Kereopa’s calls to expel sending an expedition church chalice. Kereopa Te Tarata - Ōpōtiki - Whakatōhea
Pākeha altogether. They to the Bay of Plenty ordered his followers to
consented to the demand to arrest the murder- drink Volkner’s blood.
for Volkner never to ers of Mr.Volkner and He swallowed Volkner’s
return, so Pātara penned Mr. Fulloon. If they eyes, one representing
a letter to Volkner to stay are given up to justice, parliament and the other
away. Pātara took leave the Governor will laws oppressing Māori.
to convert Ngai Tai; in that be satisfied ; if not, The chief Mokomoko
theGovernor will seize
time Kereopa continued to a part of the lands of was falsely accused by
discredit Volkner and the the tribes who conceal Jahus (husband of Ngāti
Anglican Church. these murderers, and Rua woman) of being the
rope bearer. This was
Despite warnings not to will use them for the later found to be incorrect
purpose of maintain -
return, Volkner came back to ing peace in that part because there were no
Ōpōtiki with his colleague of the country, and of irst hand witnesses
Reverend Thomas Grace providing for the wid - that identiied anyone
on 1 March 1865. Volkner, ows and relatives of from Whakatōhea as
Grace and four sailors from the murdered people.” the perpetrators of the
the schooner ‘Eclipse’ were (Gilling, 1994) hanging. Werapoaka of
taken prisoner on Kereopa’s Ngāti Rua forbade his
orders. That night a rūnanga convened people from participating, so too did
in the Catholic chapel and it was Hira Te Popo of Ngāti Ira.
decided to hang Volkner. Some like Te
Waekahu Rānapia of Ngāi Tama tried The chain of events, not of
to prevent this and asked for Volkner’s Whakatōhea’s making brought a great
freedom twice. He was denied on both deal of misfortune for the tribe.
requests and Kereopa replied ‘Kore
rawa au e whakaae. Tahea katuku e Government reaction
au kotahi mou’, (I will not agree. but I F ollowing Volkner’s death, reports
will release one to you). reached European authorities as
early as 6 March. Commander C R
On Thursday 2 March 1865 at 2pm a Fremantle despatched HMS Eclipse
party of 20 fetched Volkner. His hands under Commodore Sir W. Wiseman to
were tied and a rope was placed around rescue Grace.
He Rā Maumaharatanga 9
him, they refused. At Ōpōtiki Kereopa his neck. He was taken to a willow
asked Whakatōhea to expel the trader tree a short distance from his church
Morris Levy, he was refused. Hira Te and hanged. After the hanging, he was
Popo ‘spoke doubtfully’, decapitated. His blood
so Whakatōhea rejected “The Governor is was drained into the
Kereopa’s calls to expel sending an expedition church chalice. Kereopa Te Tarata - Ōpōtiki - Whakatōhea
Pākeha altogether. They to the Bay of Plenty ordered his followers to
consented to the demand to arrest the murder- drink Volkner’s blood.
for Volkner never to ers of Mr.Volkner and He swallowed Volkner’s
return, so Pātara penned Mr. Fulloon. If they eyes, one representing
a letter to Volkner to stay are given up to justice, parliament and the other
away. Pātara took leave the Governor will laws oppressing Māori.
to convert Ngai Tai; in that be satisfied ; if not, The chief Mokomoko
theGovernor will seize
time Kereopa continued to a part of the lands of was falsely accused by
discredit Volkner and the the tribes who conceal Jahus (husband of Ngāti
Anglican Church. these murderers, and Rua woman) of being the
rope bearer. This was
Despite warnings not to will use them for the later found to be incorrect
purpose of maintain -
return, Volkner came back to ing peace in that part because there were no
Ōpōtiki with his colleague of the country, and of irst hand witnesses
Reverend Thomas Grace providing for the wid - that identiied anyone
on 1 March 1865. Volkner, ows and relatives of from Whakatōhea as
Grace and four sailors from the murdered people.” the perpetrators of the
the schooner ‘Eclipse’ were (Gilling, 1994) hanging. Werapoaka of
taken prisoner on Kereopa’s Ngāti Rua forbade his
orders. That night a rūnanga convened people from participating, so too did
in the Catholic chapel and it was Hira Te Popo of Ngāti Ira.
decided to hang Volkner. Some like Te
Waekahu Rānapia of Ngāi Tama tried The chain of events, not of
to prevent this and asked for Volkner’s Whakatōhea’s making brought a great
freedom twice. He was denied on both deal of misfortune for the tribe.
requests and Kereopa replied ‘Kore
rawa au e whakaae. Tahea katuku e Government reaction
au kotahi mou’, (I will not agree. but I F ollowing Volkner’s death, reports
will release one to you). reached European authorities as
early as 6 March. Commander C R
On Thursday 2 March 1865 at 2pm a Fremantle despatched HMS Eclipse
party of 20 fetched Volkner. His hands under Commodore Sir W. Wiseman to
were tied and a rope was placed around rescue Grace.
He Rā Maumaharatanga 9
