26 Facts About Henare Tomoana

Henare Tomoana was a prominent Maori leader and politician from the Hawke's Bay area in the North Island, New Zealand.

Henare Tomoana was of Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Te Whatu-i-Apiti tribal lineage.

Henare Tomoana was a convenor of Te Kotahitanga, the movement for an independent Maori Parliament.

Henare Tomoana was the third son of Te Rotohenga from her second marriage to Hira Te Ota.

Henare Tomoana's third wife, Akenehi Patoka, was a landowner and an important leader in her own right.

Henare Tomoana took part in the sale of the Matau-a-Maui block in 1855.

Regardless of his alarm over the rapidity of Maori land loss in Hawke's Bay, Henare Tomoana was loyal to The Crown.

In 1869, Henare Tomoana again led troops in pursuit of Te Kooti, who was now being pursued in the area around Taupo.

Henare Tomoana then returned to Napier due to a lack of supplies.

Henare Tomoana was forced to sell his share of the Heretaunga block in order to settle his debt.

Henare Tomoana had been one of ten chiefs granted joint ownership of the Heretaunga block by the Native Land court.

At a meeting at Pakowhai in July 1872 Henare Tomoana proposed that all land grievances should be taken to Wellington to be heard in the Native Land Court, while Karaitiana Takamoana called for a commission of inquiry.

In June 1876 a meeting of chiefs was held at Pakowhai, and Henare Tomoana was its host.

Henare Tomoana repeated his 1872 support for the continuance of the Native Land Court, and suggested that fuller use be made of existing protective clauses in Maori land law, saying that Parliament was unlikely to accept new proposals.

Henare Tomoana was supported by Karaitiana Takamoana and Henare Matua, and advised by John Sheehan, who was to become the native minister in government.

Henare Tomoana contested the by-election held in July 1879 to fill the seat.

Henare Tomoana beat Henare Matua and Ieni Tapsell to become the third member of parliament for the Eastern Maori electorate.

Henare Tomoana was initially a supporter of the ministry of Sir George Grey, but soon became increasingly disillusioned.

Henare Tomoana was, for 17 days, a member of the Executive Council in Hall's administration.

Henare Tomoana intervened with less immediate success in a land dispute between John Harding and Heta Tiki of Waipawa, but the case was eventually resolved in favour of the Maori owners.

Hamiora Mangakahia, several times premier of the Maori parliament, credited Henare Tomoana with being one of the principal agents of its establishment.

Henare Tomoana was elected again in 1893, but resigned after a few days.

Henare Tomoana served as Speaker on subsequent occasions, but by the fourth session regarded himself as 'leader of the opposition' in the Kotahitanga parliament.

In 1893 Henare Tomoana took up the cause of Tuhoe, who were resisting the survey of their land, and circulated a petition on their behalf throughout Hawke's Bay.

Henare Tomoana took a moderate line, accepting the bill as a basis for discussion, whereas most others regarded it as a violation of the rules and procedures of the Maori parliament.

In June 1898, Henare Tomoana was appointed a member of the Legislative Council, a position he held until 20 February 1904 when he died.