KINGITANGA & FIRST MAORI KING

After a number of meetings in the Waikato the Kingitanga movement was formed, but not all chiefs supported such a separate government or a rival King, Temuera te Amohau said “One of our chiefs, Timoti, was the only man of the Arawa people who signed the Treaty of Waitangi, but we shall not depart from the pledge he then gave. We will not join the king tribes. My king is Queen Victoria.”

THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE OPPOSITION TO THE WHOLE MOVEMENT BY MAORIS who became known as the ‘Queens Party’

In June 1858 an alternative royal authority was chosen and anointed, Te Wherowhero became the first Maori ‘King’ known as Potatau 1.

This King movement in fact was another ‘Land league’ as its members placed their land under the mana of the King, thus giving him the right to forbid sales.

Other important characteristics of the movement were it represented the rejection of European rule, and ultimately of European influence which was in contrast to the unity in the Treaty of Waitangi. IN SHORT – A TREATY BREACH.

IT WAS SUPPORTERS OF THE SECOND MAORI KING TAWHIAO WHO PLANNED AN ATTACK ON AUCKLAND - “I shall spare neither unarmed people nor property” http://tinyurl.com/kyvp2ck

Before any such uprising could occur, the government issued an order, on july 9, 1863, requiring all maori living north of the Mangatawhiri river, TO TAKE AN OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE QUEEN AND GIVE UP THEIR WEAPONS. Those refusing to do so were required to retire to the Waikato. A FURTHER PROCLAMATION DATED JULY 11, 1863, WARNED THAT THOSE WHO WAGE WAR AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE THEIR LANDS CONFISCATED.

Colonial government soldiers crossed the Mangatawhiri River on July 12, 1863. Maori unwilling to take the oath were evicted as the colonial force advanced. Fighting occurred at Meremere, Ngaruawahia, Rangiaowhia (southwest of Cambridge) and at Orakau (near Te Awamutu) during 1863 and 1864. The final military action in Waikato was on April 2, 1864, at Orakau. A proclamation confiscating land was issued in December 1864 under the New Zealand Settlements Act 1863. Wiremu Tamehana made peace in 1865.