IWI / HAPU AFFILIATIONS
Watch an
interview with Rovina Maniapoto-Anderson.
Rewi Manga Maniapoto belonged to the Ngāti Maniapoto and
Ngāti Otawhao people of Kihikihi and Te Awamutu. His father was Te
Ngohi and his mother Te Kore. Rewi Manga Maniapoto was educated to
the ways of Ngāti Maniapoto. He married Te Rohu and they both
survived their daughter who died at Kihikihi around 1890-1891.
Maniapoto was famed for his oratory skills, his tenacity in
military campaigns, and his political acumen. His knowledge of
Ngāti Maniapoto tradition and customs was significant. He was also
Ngāti Maniapoto's critical supporter of the Kīngitanga, or Māori
King movement.1 Rewi Manga
Maniapoto would break away from the vision of the Kīngitanga in
1882. His endorsement and agreement to allow surveyors to scope out
the main-trunk railway lines to pass through the King Country
became a controversial turning point in his life.2 He later retracted this agreement
asking instead for Maniapoto self-government and control over their
own lands in exchange for the railway passing through the King
Country.3 This agreement
eventually led to the opening up of the King Country to the Crown
and settlers.4
In April 1902 Te Ahipu Tukorehu, Maniapoto's relative
from Kihikihi visited the Lindauer Art Gallery in Auckland and left
a comment in the Māori Visitors' Book:
He nui te koa o tōku ngākau i tōku kitenga i taku tupuna i a
Rewi Maniapoto, me taku whakapai hoki ki a Paateriti mō tana tiaki
i ngā whakaahua o ngā rangatira Māori.
Tupotahi
Tukorehu, Rewi's uri and Te Aroa visited the Lindauer Art
Gallery in 24 May 1902 and left this heartfelt comment.
Ko tā māua nei haere mai he hiahia kia kite i te whakaahua o
Manga. Heoi, tangi ana maua...
We are here because we wanted to see the painting of Manga. We
wept...
NM
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