The First King: Potatau Te Wherowhero
"The position of supreme leader of all the tribes greatly appealed to Tamehana and he expressed to his kinsmen on his return, his desire to be king, but in this he was dissuaded by his elders, it was being pointed out that his tribal ancestral home, Kawhia, was now in possession of other tribes. |
Historian Lesile G Kelly's historical novel, 'Tainui' also states that upon Tamehana's return from England after witnessing the British Monarchy he wanted to become King, however was refused by his elders due to his ancestral home, Kawhia under possession of other tribes- this reflects how the choosing the King was very important to the Maori and they hadn't picked someone inexperienced but rather someone who had the status and hold to keep the kingship going.
|
After almost a decade of debate within the maori tribes, The Establishment of The Maori King Movement was officially formed in the middle of 1858. The formation was Te Kingitanga was presented through the coronation of The first Maori King- Potatau Te Wherowhero who reigned from 1858 to 1860 when he died. King Potatau was selected as the Maori king due to his great leadership as a Maori warrior as the protector of the tribes in the Auckland strait and his leadership over the Waikato Iwi which has gained him status. This relationship to the Waikato was especially counted for, as the Waikato Reigon was rich in resources and strategically located in the centre of the North Island, surrounded by powerful tribes. In particular though, it was Potatau's relations with the British that gave him the upper hand as he had mana in European friendships, in fact it is even said that in 1841 Governor William Hobson expressed to London that Potatau was the most powerful chief in New Zealand (http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/the-maori-king-movement/potatau-te-wherowhero). He was crowned and anointed at Ngāruawāhia in June 1858.
The photograph shows the Māori-language inscription, facing the road. The opposite side gives the English translation, which reads:
At a meeting of the Maniapoto tribe held at Haurua in the year 1857, they announced their confirmation of the selection of Potatau Te Wherowhero as the first Maori king and it was also affirmed that the kingship of the Maori people was to be hereditary in his family.
Potatau had been selected as King by a meeting of chiefs of the Maori tribes held at Pukawa in November 1856; but before he would accept the position, Potatau expressed his wish that the matter be submitted to his senior cousins among the Maniapoto tribe.
The chiefs of the Maniapoto tribe who deliberated and who made the decision were – Taonui, Hauauru, Haupokia, Te Wetini, Tuhoro and Te Kanawa.
The site of the meeting-place at Haurua is distant about 500 yards west of this spot.
When King Potatau died in June 1860, the succession was then passed to his son, Tawhiao, who has since passed his reign down till today with our current king, King Tuheitia Paki crowned in 2006 when the 7th coronation took place in Ngaaruawaahia.
There were however immediate consequences to the establishment...
There were however immediate consequences to the establishment...