IWI / HAPU AFFILIATIONS
Tamati Ngapora was born in the early nineteenth century and
belonged to Ngāti Mahuta of Waikato. His parents were Hore and
Kahurimu. He was the nephew of Te Rauangaanga and a cousin of Potatau Te
Wherowhero. He and his family became Christians, and he took
the name Tamati (Thomas). His wife was named Hera. They had at
least one daughter, also named Hera.1 Ngapora was a native clergy
until he joined the Hauhau.2
After the New Zealand land wars at Waikato, Ngapora became a
right-hand man to Tawhiao the Maori
King. He asumed the name of Manuhiri, which means a guest, and
refers to the fact that his land and that of his people was taken
from them and that he was living upon the hospitality of another
tribe.
His physical appearance was described by the correspondent of
the Southern Cross newspaper as:
His features and his attitude were a subject worthy of the
pencil of a Salvator Rosa. He is closely tattooed, with short hair,
plentifully besprinkled with grey. His height is medium, and he is
well made and robust looking though age has evidently begun to tell
upon him, for the nimbleness and vivacity of youth have
disappeared. He moves in a deliberate, dignified way... and he
speaks in a quiet, reserved tone, but very pleasingly. I thought,
as the old man sat before me and talked with us, that I detected an
air of sorrow in his looks. Now and then there was a twitching
about the mouth, and the lines with which age and care had furrowed
his face contracted themselves.3
In 1881 Tawhiao formally submitted to the Government at
Alexandra (Pirongia). He was accompanied by Ngapora and other
leaders. Ngapora continued to live at Whatiwhatihoe, the royal
village in the King Country, where he died on 5 August 1885. He was
believed to be about 80 years of age.4
NM
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