DISTINGUISHED LINEAGE OF MAORI KING KOROKI A Dominant Urge

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23919, 10 April 1943, Page 4

DISTINGUISHED LINEAGE OF MAORI KING KOROKI

A Dominant Urge

“ARIKI OF ARIKIS"

[Specially written for "The

The northern press announced recently that King Koroki of Waikato had made one of his rare public appearances. In fact, he appeared twice, he was at Rotorua for the opening of Tama-te-kapua and Tawakeheimoa, the Te Arawa whare-whakai ro, or carved houses. The visit to Ohmemutu _ was particularly significant in Maon circles. He was also present at a welcome to Americans at NgaruaWahia. About 70 years ago, his great-grand-father, King Tawhiao was invited to the opening of the original Tama-te-kapua house, lor some reason Tawhiao did not appear. The Te Arawa people were so disappointed that they expressed their regret in a ngeri. Its theme was that though Tawhiao had passed them by, the day would come when one of his mokopunas (descendants) would fulfil Koroki has visited the Rotorua district on several occasions since his accession in 1933 he has hitherto avoided the senior marae, Tama-te-kapua, of the Ngati-Whakaue, at Ohinemutu. With the Ngati-Pikiao of Lake Rotoiti, he has always had close associations, as this sub-tribe of Te Arawa has always been Kmgite in sympathy. Centuries ago Pikiao, the ancestor of this section, felt annoyed with his father when he rebuked him with producing only daughters. So on Pikiao went to Waikato and had another family. From the latter marriage Koroki comes in direct descent from Pikiao.

For a decade now King Koroki has held the allegiance of approximately one-flfth of the Maori population. \et, beyond the confines of his own tribes—apart from essentially Maori circles—he is little known. This is particularly so in the South Island which, as yet, he has not visited. But that he is likely to play an even more import ant part in Maori affairs is obvious. This 13 due, in a large measure, to the increased respect for Waikato which has been won by his aunt, Princess Te Puea Herangi. Behind all her sociai work, however, has been one dominant urge—enhancing the mana ox the Kiingitanga. Though Te Puea knew little of her grandfather, King Tawhiao, she has been much influenced by the sayings of that sage and seer. Mahuta,_his son and successor, was an abiding influence in her life. For years she worked for the latter’s son, Te Rata, and now her life is dedicated to "the boy," as she refers to Koroki. . King Koroki is now in his middle thirties. In stature he is small. Though, of course, he has not the elaborate tattooing of Tawhiao, he resembles him physically. Koroki detests public appearances: he-is essentially shy and retiring. I have 1. :ver known him to speak in public. That duty always devolves upon one of his elders. With strangers he never speaks English, though he understands it well enough. Koroki had greatness thrust upon him, he never wished to be the Maori King. Te Rata, his father, had two sons, Tonga, the elder, was educated with a view to the succession. But Koroki, the younger (and the spoilt darling of his mother’s people, the Ngati-Koroki) had little education. Before his father's death he was just one of the boys about the Waahi pa on the banks of the Waikato river, near Huntly, playing football, or tinkering with his motor-cycle. Koroki is a born mechanic,. One day, unannounced, I called to see him with Te Puea. As we approached his. home we saw Koroki, with some young men of his own age, re-assembling his motor-cycle. The young King was so absorbed in his task that he did not see us until we were almost upon him. He dived into some adjacent flax bushes. : The fact that there were pakehas in the party was sufficient. Te Puea laughingly called upon him to return, and somewhat shame-faced, he did so. - ■

This shyness with Koroki is a psychological handicap that he has attempted very seriously to overcome. The first ordeal he.surmounted was at Waitangi in 1934. On that occasion' he had to take his seat on the dais beside the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, Te Puea took him by the arm and escorted him through the crowd to the platform. A very nervous young ariki seated himself beside the King’s representative. “I shall always be grateful to Lord Bledisloe," he once told me. “He dug me in the ribs and said, ’Cheer up, old sport!’ I felt better after that.”

The Kiingitanga is still, in all probability, the most misunderstood Maori movement in New Zealand. It began

Press” by ERIC RAMSDEN.J ,

in the early ’so’s when Tamihana t. Rduparaha returned to Otaki from England imbued with the idea of« central controlling authority for th» Maori people. Matene Te Whiwhi hS cousin, took up the project. enthmS! ‘ astically. The offer of the Maori Kw v ship was offered to various great |Zl' of that time. All rejected it. f Waikatos say that this was due t n their fear of Waikato! , However, eventually, very -reluct, antly, Potatau Te Wherowhero, ac. cepted. Potatau had been a great war. : rior In his day. On one occasion in Taranaki the prisoners were marched before him. As each Potatau killed him with a angle blow from his glistening greenstone me» ■ As the one hundred and fiftieth man' passed Potatau complained that «!'. arm ached. But he was also in single combat, and is the. hero aH many a story. •", J ; The Kiingitanga came into being fi > two reasons: primarily, the people wanted to save their lands, and second, they were appalled by theJatf /j; of constituted authority in their-5 territories. The situation was.p&v yoked by the most unsatisfactory fc J cial conditions that then old order of chiefs was passing;.'Jh&it seemed that the Government'- inot exercise control. It was an g*ceA' - ! ingly difficult period of trat&tioii; . Still, it must not be forgotten tin® Kingite leaders intended no disrefti to Queen Victoria. It was, essentially, a Maori ' alist movement. But, it came before Us time. If it'Jafl* handled sympathetically by the Qoyl ment it could have been a good. But Sir George Grey usedown subtle methods to "putdlsfitf Inflamed by the war in „ Tifin (which had been provoked, just purchase of Waitara), th| tOtl lent spirits in Waikato, though the! called kingmaker, Tamihana Te haroa, did his best, could hot heft The consequence was a war that suited in the confiscation Qt-Wu lands, though their, cousins-'in® panions in arms, the Ngatl-Maajipj escaped scot free. Few people realise to-day unanimous the tribes were in en lishing the Kiingitanga. Eveps Ngai-Tahu', of the South Islandji their allegiance at the famous ,nu ing at Pukawa, Taupo, in 1857, w| Potatau was elected. Taiaroa'm sented the Ngai-Tahu. Like the Ngai-Tahu claims, thd| kato grievance is one of the ojtfrai ing Maori matters that require alij ment. A- Royal Commission thaf in 1928 reported that the inhof hapus of Waikato had the others that had been-.driyfe;i open rebellion. It recommended* sum in perpetuity, as was dofft« the Te Arawa in the clalmfiw> Rotorua lake beds and in setting of Taranaki’s confiscation claims. 1 !'; Waikato has never accepted w terms.' 1 ‘

"The Waikato refers to'this “raupatu,” or blood hard,” conservative sectiohjaas face against ' acceptance. Howfvi|| those who are more liberally mibot» led by Te Puea, realise that the,tmf> has arrived for a compromise. -Qn g|>least one occasion within recent yepft Waikato was’ prepared to. meet' tto«n Government. ‘ It has often been asked: why title of king taken? The Tamihana Te, Waharoa i Bible for an appropriate title';|i|f|t ,• found Scriptural authority..GWttßlfe: j‘> however, Koroki is simply, '/ as Kiingi. In Potatau's llmltheMi^r., ; . no term in Maori that cony)pyiM%liaV' = was desired. The Maori people'hlther l ?! to had been divided into. tribbs,m#a. with its own ariki or Kiingi in. Maori does panoply of a throne, nor is.imtendM to suggest. disloyalty to. ihe., BrjjH«r|j King. Maybe, one coultj call of, acikis." ’■'htX, One reason for Potatau's .select#®?l was his distinguished birth. He claifflttl fi descent from all the canoes ?gO|* tf Great Migration of 1340. ‘ Those who know Koroki besl>to? -Si much confidence in him,.-Th^(i^U, < l yet guided very largely by mS-«WS||p he has shown. at times that. 'htiMEp! a will of his own. There him, the heritage of a long chiefs. Waikato believes I thjtemy ■ essentially tapu person of knowledged hereditary leader,yßpl justifies the proud tribal beasMWiij kato taniwharau! He plko, he hetaniwha, he piko!”; one hundred taniwhas, the river every bend has its chief , chief has his taniwha.) up