Rewi maniapoto biography of donald

REWI MANIAPOTO.

Rewt Maniapoto, or Manga, as he is now usually called by the natives, is a ohief illustrious by his descent, by his intellectual and moral qualities, and by his skill and courage as a warrior. Every generous man esteems •brave enemy, so that we can all unite en this score in welcoming Rewi; and, besides, he has this claim upon us, that it is through him the peace has been kept in the country, and through him that we hope to be able to make permanent arrangements for the benefit of both peoples respecting the' immense territory from which colonisation has been excluded. Rewi's father waa called Te Ngohi, who was a son o£ Tβ Akanui, an elder brother of Tukoreha. Te Ngohi wae one of the head chiefs of Ngatiraukawa, but he married one of the principal women of Ngatimaniapoto, and lived with hie wife'a people, even fighting against Ngatiraukawa in tribal feuds. Te Ngohi's usual place of residence was on the Upper Waipa, and in all probability, Rewi was born there. He is well descended from both parents, a matter of great importance for a Maori. Hohgi'e invasion of Waikato took place in 1522, but Ngatimaniapoto did not suffer mnch, most of them having gone inland to Taupo. Rewi was then very young. Hongi slaughtered the residents of the Auckland Isthmus 'at Mokoia and Mauinaina, two pas 'on the site of the village of Pantnure, and drawing his canoes over the isthmuses of Otahuhu and Waiukii, he reached the Waikato by the Awaroa. The tribes gathered at Matakitaki, near the site of the township of Alexandra. The pa waa taken, and 1000 people slain and eaten. The remnant of the Waikatos took refuge at Orahiri, on the Waipa, and some time afterwards Takorehu and Akanui with their people came back from Taupo. There they lived in amity with the Waikatos, and a daughter; of Tukorehu'e, named Te Waero, was given in marriage to Te Wherowhero. As illusratiog Maori life, we may notice that some time afterwards, the fair Te Waero was unfaithful to her lord, and as

Overview

This essay originally appeared in New Zealand Art at Te Papa (Te Papa Press, 2018).

‘Ka whawhai tonu ahau ki a koe, ake, ake!’ (‘I shall fight you forever, and ever, and ever!’) These are the famous words attributed to Rewi Maniapoto, when called to surrender at the siege of Ōrākau in 1863 — a key episode in the New Zealand Wars in which a decisive British victory was denied. In the course of hostilities, Māori and British alike developed immense respect for Rewi’s strategic prowess. He did not seek conflict; indeed, Rewi believed in honouring the Treaty of Waitangi, upholding a relationship of equality and resisting successive colonial governments’ attempts to undermine Māori authority. History has endorsed Rewi, and even contemporary newspaper accounts of this photograph — taken when he was probably in his seventies — are deeply respectful: ‘Every line of the features is brought out with admirable distinctness … The keen, fiery, deep-set eyes, gleam out from under a brow denoting a strong, determined and thoughtful mind.’1

The photograph was made in 1879 in the Auckland studio of Elizabeth Pulman, who herself showed resourcefulness, even courage, in taking over its running after the premature death of her husband, George, that same year. Although Rewi wears the European attire typical of the period, he is draped in a kaitaka cloak and holds an elaborately carved wooden wahaika, a hand weapon. While these are almost certainly studio props, Rewi looks every inch the veteran warrior. Some retouching has been applied to his ageing face: ‘He remarked … that he was now an old man, the same age as Sir George Grey, and possibly might never see Auckland again’.2 The moko (tattooing), while only partial, is of high quality and befits one raised to lead. Rewi wears huia feathers in his hair, and also notable is his diamond ring, a present from a previous native minister (probably Donald McLean). Evidently Rewi was delight

Date:15 April 1885

From:Godber, Albert Percy, 1875-1949 :Collection of albums, prints and negatives

By:Beere, Daniel Manders, 1833-1909

Reference:APG-1180-1/2-F

Description:Group at the digging of the first sod for the Main Trunk Railway. They stand at the confiscation line at the southern bank of the Puniu River, 15 April 1885. Standing in the centre behind the barrow, wearing a top hat, is Rewi Maniapoto. Immediately to his left is his daughter, Te Kore. To her left and behind is Sir Robert Stout. The tall man wearing a top hat, standing to the left of Stout, is Wahanui Huatare. The original photograph was taken by Daniel Manders Beere; this image is a copy negative made by Albert Percy Godber from a print of the Beere original, file in Godber Album Vol. 102, p 45 (PA1-f-025). Further information about this occasion is held at the Appendix to the journals of the House of Representatives, 1885, D-6. There is also a print of this image in Godber Album Vol 102 p 45 (PA1-f-025) A File print of the original photograph by Daniel Manders Beere is filed at 385. Railways. Lines. Main Trunk [NI]. Puniu. 1885. Inscriptions: Album page - "Possibly turning first sod. North Island Main Trunk Rly. Puniu River, Te Awamutu, 1885." "This is Daniel Manders Beere 1/2 plate neg no. 30, 1/2-096175". Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative 17.25 x 11.75 cm