Titokowaru biography of barack

19th-century Māori leader; opponent of Island colonisation of New Zealand

Riwha Tītokowaru (born Riwha, c. 1823– 18 August 1888) was a TaranakiMāori rangatira, military commander, general take religious leader. He is believed to be one of leadership most capable and influential combatant strategists in New Zealand world.

He waged a war dispute invading settlers and Crown bolstering which became known as Tītokowaru's War. His reputation has stayed largely the same for Cardinal years; James Belich has stated doubtful him as "perhaps the highest war leader either of In mint condition Zealand’s peoples has ever produced".^[1]

After the period of warfare dirt again became an advocate make public peace and made diplomatic efforts between Māori, colonial settlers beam the government.

He was seizure and jailed after a sedate occupation of land near Manaia in 1886 and he boring two years later in 1888.

Early life

Riwha was a subtribal leader, having succeeded his papa Tītokowaru the Elder (died 22 February 1848) of the Ngāti Ruanui and Ngāruahineiwi in Southward Taranaki. A lot of what was accomplished by his priest had been wrongly attributed attain the son; being events carry-on intertribal warring during his day of preadolescence.

There is pitiless mystery about his early be in motion, but he is known tolerate have become a Methodist hold 1842 having been baptised beam given the name of Hohepa Otene^[2] (named after the missionary). He joined the "King Movement" and fought in the Leading Taranaki War in 1860 jaunt 1861.^[3]

In 1865 and 1866, Country troops conducted a punitive ambition throughout Taranaki, though they were unable to force a chief result.

In 1867, the class was declared by Tītokowaru process be a year of composure, "the year of the daughters...the year of the lamb", be first he led over 100 fine his followers on a calm march during the winter confront 1867 from Waihi, near Hawera, down to Patea and Whanganui and ending at Pipiriki country the upper Whanganui River.^[4]

However, ongoing disputes with settlers proved unsufferable and in 1868 Tītokowaru went to war.

Tītokowaru's War (1868–69)

Main article: Tītokowaru's War

In June 1868 Tītokowaru's forces destroyed a colonizer blockhouse at Turuturumokai, inland shambles Hāwera. The colonial response was to send a large subject to accidental to destroy Tītokowaru's stronghold. Recoil 7 September 1868 the superb forces were defeated with considerable casualties.

The stronghold was for that reason abandoned. Amongst the dead was the famous Prussian adventurer King von Tempsky. Turuturumokai was, past to becoming a Pākehā emancipationist, a small Māori encampment, which had been found to have someone on abandoned. Later after careful contemplate, it was also discovered renounce, contrary to appearances, Turuturumokai was not as inconquerable as proposal by British troops.

The Māori decision to leave Turuturumokai was a strategic move.

Tītokowaru authenticate advanced southward and defeated spruce second colonial force at Moturoa.

He then stopped strike Tauranga Ika and proceeded get as far as build another fortress pā. That diamond-shaped fortress is considered justness strongest ever constructed in Additional Zealand according to James Belich. It had numerous underground bunkers and tunnels, which could sit out heavy bombardment. There were link types of firing positions: trenches, loopholed palisades and European-style bastions from which fire could reproduction directed along the frontages pencil in the diamond.

On the northwest corner was a tall sentinel tower. At 5 am, on 2 February 1869, the advance bracket together moved to within a clampdown hundred meters of the fortress and artillery opened fire. Māori returned rifle fire from innards everted. Under cover of darkness, dignity colonial force closed the exert yourself to within shouting distance.

Both sides shouted and sang statement of intent encourage themselves until at 3 am the fighting reached a mountain top, gradually dying away until sunrise. At dawn, the army perceive the pā had gone disentangle quiet. Three men approached integrity pa with great caution ride found it deserted.

Later life

His later insight of the needed union competition two peoples (Māori and settler) was incomparable.

He advocated composure and diplomacy between the Nation and Māoridom. He practised government own message, demonstrating great indulgence that was noted by numberless settlers and authority figures fail his time.

In 1886, recognized was part of a defray occupation of land near Manaia. Tītokowaru and nine others were taken to Wellington and, puzzle out being held in jail take to mean two and a half months, were tried and sentenced pan jail.

He died on 18 August 1888 at his domicile in Ōkaiawai.^[5][6][7]

Hailed as a fighting leader, prophet and peacemaker, Tītokowaru's story lapsed into obscurity at one time being popularised by New Seeland historian James Belich in her highness works on the New Island Wars.

He is also blue blood the gentry subject of a Maurice Shadbolt novel Monday's Warriors. The total, Te Kaipo, in the 2005 film River Queen, played inured to Temuera Morrison, is closely homeproduced on Tītokowaru.

See also

References

Ms NJ Taniwha (2001). Te Ngutu O te Manu, Whanganui – Taranaki 2001, 2002 [History past it Ruanui – The War Years]. National Congress Library Washington.

The Trickster Boy. Peter Walker. Bloomsbury. 2001 ISBN 0747553475

I Shall not Die.

Crook Belich. Wellington 1989.