A gentlemen’s agreement

Tu Tangata, Issue 29, 1 April 1986, Page 58

A gentlemen’s agreement

by Tahana Wahanui

When and how did the King Country get its name? At a meeting in 1858 between the Maori and the Pakeha on Mount Tuhikaramea or Tihi-i-tuhi-karamea, where the Temple of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints now stands, an agreement was reached and the land was named the King Country of Te Rohe Potae. The original name was Nehenehenui, the great forest of the fighting warriors of Ngati Maniapoto.

The meeting was between the representatives of the British crown, Governor Robert Fitzroy, Colonel Thomas Gore Brown and George Grey with Tawhiao, the second Maori King and his people. It was not a friendly meeting. Governor Fitzroy told Tawhiao that he wanted the land in the centre of the North Island divided in half. Tawhiao was to have the western half and Fitzroy the eastern.

Caught Off Guard Tawhiao did not expect such a demand and was caught off guard. This was a big blow to him, and he was left with no alternative but to agree with Fitzroy and his colleagues who were well pleased. But the great Maori leader had second thoughts. He stood at his full height with all the regality of his monarchy and looked up into the heavens and bowed his head in silence for a few minutes. Tawhiao prayed to God in humbleness and repentance, asking for a favour with earnestness and pleading. E Te Matua nui i te rangi, homai te maramatanga ki roto i a au Whakaaria taku arero, taku hotu manawa. Our father in heaven give me wisdom, knowledge and understanding. On opening his eyes he focused them on Governor Fitzroy and asked him for his bell-topper hat.

Aghast and Bewildered Fitzroy gave Tawhiao his hat, thinking to humour him but was aghast and bewildered when Tawhiao placed it on the ground. Still standing, Tawhiao drew his tomahawk and raised it in a position to strike. Governor Fitzroy yelled at him to stop and not destroy his hat, and Tawhiao put his tomahawk away. Tawhiao confronted him with his next words, saying “Is it just right that you should cut my land in half, like I could cut your hat in half?” Tawhiao then placed his hat on a map of the North Island and drew a circle around the rim of the hat to emphasise the fact that the land in the circle was his and called it Rohepotae, the hat boundary. Eventually the gentlemen made an agreement and Tawhiao said, “Ma te Matua nui i te rangi, herea te rangi kite whenua, whakamanahia, whakatapuhia tenei take waenganui i te Maori me

te Pakeha, amuri. Ake nei, ake, ake tonu atu. Amene.” “May God in heaven and earth bear witness to this solemn pact between Maori and Pakeha for ever and ever. Amen.”

WN 28 Nov 1985