18 Facts About Wiremu Tamihana

Tarapipipi Te Waharoa, later known as Wiremu Tamihana, was born around 1805 at Tamahere on the Horotiu plains, the son of the Maori chief Te Waharoa and Rangi Te Wiwini.

Wiremu Tamihana's father was the leader of the tribe Ngati Haua, which settled the area along the Waikato River near Horotiu as far east as the Kaimai Ranges.

Wiremu Tamihana was taught to read and write in the Maori language and soon would become a key communicator for his father.

Wiremu Tamihana 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 Ngati Whakaue, with whom Ngati Haua was fighting.

Wiremu Tamihana quickly stamped his authority as chief, when he resisted efforts by his tribe to carry out raids against Te Arawa.

Wiremu Tamihana's efforts prevented a major battle between the tribes although there some isolated fighting.

Wiremu Tamihana taught in a school, established farming in his community, and traded produce to Pakeha settlers in Auckland.

Wiremu Tamihana 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.

Wiremu Tamihana was able to persuade several iwi to join the movement, and Potatau Te Wherowhero of Ngati Mahuta to take on the role of first King.

Wiremu Tamihana provided a statement of laws, based on the Bible.

Wiremu Tamihana became a diplomat and publicist for the movement, founding a Maori language newspaper for it.

Wiremu Tamihana wrote to him explaining that the King Movement was not in conflict with the Queen but refused to swear the oath of allegiance.

Wiremu Tamihana expressed concern that the Governor seemed intent on war but failed to see the implications of rebellion.

Later, he wrote a series of 14 threatening letters to Grey who realised that Wiremu Tamihana was backed by the fierce Rewi Maniapoto.

When war did break out, after the killing of 7 British soldiers in a time of peace in Taranaki and the attempted murder of Gorst, a government agent at Te Awamutu, Wiremu Tamihana remained in favour of negotiation, but others within the King Movement, such as Rewi Maniapoto preferred to fight.

Wiremu Tamihana became ill in July 1866 but despite this continued to play a role in tribal matters.

Wiremu Tamihana intervened in disputes between Tauranga Maori and surveyors and attend hearings at the Native Land Court.

Wiremu Tamihana died at Turanga-o-moana, near Peria, on 27 December 1866.