19th century warrior returned

Waimarino Bulletin, Issue 4, 12 August 1988, Page 2

19th century warrior returned

Waimarino descendants of a Maori warrior who died 141 years ago returned the warrior's remains to his homeland this week. Hohepa Te Umuroa was sentenced to transportation for life to a penal colony in Tasmania after he was court martialled o n charges of insurrection in 1846. The charges arose from hostilities near Paekakariki in 1846 during a declaration of martial law imposed by Govenor George Grey. The court martial decision on Te Umuroa and four companions was overturned after - wards but too late for him. He died of Tuberculosis just months before the men's pardon came through. The 25 year old war-

rior was buried on the Maria Island penal settlement, where 14 1 years later, the group of his descendants went to recover his remains. The six descendants, Matiu Mareikura, Joe Wanihi, Joan Akapita, Te Otinga Peehi, Lei Mareikura, and Nohi Wallace, travelled to the island to help Australian archaeologists find his remains. The Ncw Zealand Justice

Department provided the finance for the trip as the warrior had been sentenced unjustly. The group returned with the tiny coffin containing Hohepa Te Umuroa's remains on Sunday and on Monday, during persistent drizzle, the coffin was buried at Roma cemetery overlooking the Wanganui River, near Jerusalem.