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| Te Wherowhero in The Whai Ora Marae in Otara |
E kuhuna ai te miro ma, te miro pango
Me te miro whero …
I muri I au ki mau ki
Te Tika, Te Pono
Me te Aroha
There is but one to the needle
Through which the white, black
And red threads must pass
After I’m gone hold fast to justice (TIKA)
To Love (AROHA), and to The Great Spirit above (PONO)
Te Wherowhero 1858
… and a good journey often starts with a glitch but soon converged at the memorial home to the great man, Te Wherowhero … Kingi Potatau. An iconic site that has contributed to the narrative of Auckland, Kaitiakitanga neglected by Council and Tainui. We met in the hallowed place, Pukekawa (Hill of Bitter Memories) with feelings of reverence for the sacred, a feeling of togetherness against the cheering echoes across The Auckland Domain. Truly iconic, connecting us to place and time. With us for this auspicious start for Te Reo Season were manuhiri Jacob Scott, a nationally known Designer, artist and teacher. Rau Hoskins and Carin Wilson both notable pioneers in communities and with post graduate students in their practice, Design Tribe and Unitec School of Architecture to find practical and affordable housing solutions using tikanga and the natural environment. Paora Addison is an architect who pulled us together. It was appropriate too that Te Reo teacher Catherine Munroe was there as was Master Weaver Judy Robson-Deane to lift the start of a yearlong journey. Many answers emerged as to, ‘Why’ have you come to look across the ‘sacred hill’ beyond Waitemata and Manukau to the ‘talking’ mountains of Tamaki Makaurau. Most of you Waewae Tapu in the footprints of Te Wherowhero, first step then the next towards the taonga that awaits you in the wake of your tipuna.
So … despite the cruel loss of their cherished lands, the great Tainui leader Te Wherowhero had a vision of the inexorable flow of a multi-cultural society. Initially, he favoured the shift of the capital from Kororareka to Auckland and openly buttressed William Hobson by putting his korowai around the governor’s shoulders. He soon became disillusioned and moved out to Mangere, then Awhitu and eventually Waahi in Huntly. A willingness to participate in the growth of the new colony didn’t count and Tainui and Taranaki were seen by George Grey and the settlers as a real threat to the safety and security of the new capital. Regarded widely as one of the most powerful chiefs in the North Island he eventually became the first Maori king. The chief TarapipipiTe Waharoa campaigned for a Maori ‘monarch’ in the mould of British monarchs. It didn’t take long for the treaty to be perceived by Maori as a ‘mere nullity’. Te Kingitanga emerged as a movement to halt further alienation of Tainui and Maori lands. He became king on 2 June 1858, then an ailing man. Te Koroneihana (Coronation) of Te Wherowhero was supported nationally by tribal leaders – Te Heu Heu, Te Kani a Takirau, Titokowaru, Tupaea … and others and hence the title, ‘Te Mokopuna o te Motu’.
From the 1830s to the time he left, he can be regarded as a 'local', living as he did at various times at Ihumatao, Onehunga, Mangere and Awhitu. Land was gifted to him at Puke Kawa (The Hill of Bitter Memories) in The Domain where he could maintain peace between ‘the dangerous’ Nga Puhi and Waikato.
“.... In 1863 George Grey ordered the invasion of Waikato at Meremere and Rangiriri, although Attorney General, Sir William Martin advised him very strongly that he had no right to do so. And so began the Land Wars of New Zealand. But that was only a part of the issue. The conflict was also about authority - power or mana. The settlers could not cope with the idea of a Maori king and saw Potatau as a direct threat to the authority of Queen Victoria.” Waitangi Tribunal, Paul Temm QC 1984
Initially, Te Wherowhero personally supported Hobson’s move to Auckland in the siting of the new capital in 1841 at the request of Ngati Whatua. He later helped to established The Maori Militia (police) and was granted land at Mangere Bridge, The Maori Fencibles were known widely for keeping the peace amongst Maori.
1840 – the treaty document were signed at Ihumatao, Karaka Bay, and Waikato Heads.
1856 – he left Auckland in disgust and encircled himself in what became known as Te Rohe Potae, The King Country,
Te Wherowhero died in June 1860. His son was Crowned Kingi Tawhiao who led deputations to parliament and to the monarch on behalf of Tainui to no avail
1863 – Waikato was attacked by British troops at Rangiriri and Meremere; the result large tracts of land taken as compensation for ‘disloyalty’
2008: Te Kingitanga celebrated its sesquicentennial year (150) Kingi Tuheitia now sits on the throne of his ancestors; Te Wherowhero, Tawhiao, Mahuta, Te Rata, Koroki and his mother Te Atairangikaahu.
“Ahakoa nga hara kua utaina ki runga ki te moana tapu e hora nei, nga he me nga whakamomori kei tua, ahakoa te kaika o te ngakau o a matau rangatahi, ka u tonu te ngakau mahaki o te iwi o Manukau ki te ture Atua, ki te ture whenua, me te ture o te motu. Engari, me whakatika nga hara ahakoa atu mehe timata ano”.
Rua Cooper Tainui rangatira and kaumatua in an interview October 1982
Despite wrong doings to the people and to the Manukau Harbour, and some chafing at the bit by our young people, those before us reaffirmed their loyalty to the nation; it’s not our loyalty that is in question but the good faith of the other partner of the treaty. Past wrongs can be put right, and it’s not too late to begin again.
(Translation)
Glossary:
Te Heu Heu – paramount leader of Tuwharetoa tribe
Te Kani a Takirau – East Coast leader
Tika – doing what is right by each other, derivation of Tikanga, Maori law
Whakaaro pai – acting in good faith
Mokopuna o Te Motu – ‘grandson of the nation’, to serve Maori interests
Waewae tapu – first steps, first time, walk new ground, soles of your feet
Te Ngira (the needle) – meeting house on Papakura Marae