MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 February 1940, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

THE KING OF THE MAORI.

(Recorded by J.H.S. for '‘Times-Age."')

The history of the Maori King movement and the King Country forms an interesting chapter in New Zealand’s record. When we hear of its familiar title "The King Country" we do not realise that it comprises no less than 6,400,000 acres, most of it being fertile land. Every part is well watered by the Waikato, Mokau and Wanganui rivers and their tributaries, also Lake Taupo. Rich also in coal, gold and iron. Pirongia, Tongariro, and Ruapehu mountains rising from 3,000 to 9.000 feet, are within its boundaries, the highest ir? Australasia.

In 1859 Hochstetler was received there with regal honours. That was before the Maoris realised that we were to be conquerors of their beloved land by so-called peaceful means or otherwise.

To counteract this threat of subjucation. or national extinction the opposing chiefs banded together. In 1853 Matini te Whiwhi, a ruling chief of Otaki conceived the idea of "The Maori King" and marched through Taupo and Rotorua to induce the tribes to make a selection for monarchy. The matter was deferred through the opposition of Te Heuheu of Taupo, whose warriors considered they and they alone were the ruling power. In 1854 a great gathering at Manawapou erected a Royal council house and named it Taiporo he Nui (the end of the argument). A solemn pledge was made to sell no more land and a tomahawk was passed around that all would agree to kill the one who broke it.