Wiremu Tamihana

Wiremu Tamihana Tarapipipi Te Waharoa(~1805 - 1866), generally known as Wiremu Tamihana, was a leader of the Ngati Haua Māori iwi in nineteenth century New Zealand, and is sometimes known as 'the kingmaker' for his role in the Māori King Movement.

Tamihana was born Tarapipipi Te Waharoa around 1805 at Tamahere on the Horotiu plains. In his youth he fought in the Musket Wars. In the 1830s he converted to Christianity and was given the Christian name Wiremu Tamihana (William Thompson). He also learnt to read and write in the Māori language. After his father died in 1838, he became a leader of Ngati Haua even though he was not his father's eldest son. He founded a new pa or settlement, with rules based on the ten commandments. It included a church capable of holding up to a thousand people. He also taught in a school, established farming in his community, and traded produce to Pakeha settlers in Auckland. Another Christian community was founded in 1846 at Peria.

In the late 1850s Tamihana was involved in the establishment of the Māori King Movement, which aimed to unify Māori by setting up a kingship. He 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. Tamihana provided a statement of laws, based on the Bible. Although the movement was seen by many Pakeha as rebellion, it was intended that the Māori King would be in alliance with Queen Victoria. Tamihana became a diplomat and publicist for the movement, founding a Māori language newspaper for it. In 1861 Governor Thomas Gore Browne issued a declaration demanding Māori submission to the British Crown. Tamihana wrote to him explaining that the King Movement was not in conflict with the Queen and expressing concern that the Governor seemed intent on war. When war did break out, Tamihana remained in favour of negotiation, but others within the King Movement, such as Rewi Maniopoto preferred to fight. Throughout the Invasion of the Waikato Tamihana attempted to negotiate with government forces, to little effect. After the war he campaigned against the resultant confiscation of land. He died in December 1866.

ource

* Stokes, Evelyn. 'Te Waharoa, Wiremu Tamihana Tarapipipi ? - 1866'. [http://www.dnzb.govt.nz Dictionary of New Zealand Biography] , updated 22 June 2007.