Makea Takau Ariki
Encyclopedia
Makea Takau Ariki was a sovereign of the Cook Islands
. She was the ariki
(queen) of the dynasty Makea Nui (Great Makea), one of the three chiefdoms of the tribe Te Au O Tonga (The mist of the south) on the island of Rarotonga
.
She succeeded her uncle Makea Abera Ariki in 1871. Her reign lasted forty years during a crucial time in the history of Rarotonga and the Cook Islands. It was under her reign that the Cook Islands became a British protectorate in 1888 before being annexed to New Zealand in 1900.
.
and of the adjoining islands of Mauke
, and Mitiaro
. The war-like Prince Consort, Ngamaru, was less civilized than she; it was his way to threaten people who offended him, by making the "cannibal sign" at them—rapidly drawing his clenched fist across his teeth; the significance being: "I will tear you with my teeth!". Prince Ngamaru Rongotini died in 1903.
According to Beatrice Grimshaw
, a journalist from Ireland who visited in 1907, shortly after the death of Prince Ngamaru, it seems that it was a happy marriage.
and the Society Islands
in 1843 caused considerable apprehension among the Cook Islands' ariki and led to requests from them to the British for protection in the event of French attack. This nervousness continued for many years and the call for protection was repeated in 1865 in a petition to Governor Grey of New Zealand.
During the 1870s the Cook Islands enjoyed prosperity and peace under the authority of Queen Makea, Makea Takau as she was known. A wily negotiator, she secured good prices for exports and cut the debts which had piled up before she became ariki. By 1882 four of the five ariki of Rarotonga were women. Since the sovereign of the British Empire
was Queen Victoria, Makea probably found it easier to achieve a paramount status. In 1888 she formally petitioned the British to set up a Protectorate
to head off what she believed to be imminent invasion by the French.
The British were reluctant administrators
and continued pressure was applied to them from New Zealand and from European residents of the islands to pass the Cook Islands over to New Zealand. The first British Resident was Frederick Moss
, a New Zealand politician
who tried to help the local chiefs form a central government
. In 1898 another New Zealander, Major W.E. Gudgeon
, a veteran of the New Zealand Maori wars, was made British Resident with the aim of paving the way for New Zealand to take over from Britain
as part of the expansionist ambitions of New Zealand's Prime Minister
, Richard Seddon
. This was not favored by Makea Takau who preferred the idea of being annexed to Britain. One of the results of the British annexation was freedom of religion
and a new influx of missionaries from different denominations. The first Roman Catholic church
was dedicated in 1896.
After much maneuvering and politicking, the Cook Islands was formally annexed by New Zealand on October 7, 1900 when a deed
of cession
was signed by five ariki and seven lesser chiefs without any debate or examination of its ramifications or implications.
, are the Para O Tane Palace and its surrounding area, the Taputapuatea marae
. Named after a marae in the Society Islands, Taputapuatea was once the largest, most scared marae in Rarotonga. The palace is where Makea Takau, signed the treaty accepting the Cook Islands' status as a British protectorate on the 26th of October 1888. Beatrice Grimshaw gives a brief description of the palace during her visit to Rarotonga in 1907.
The palace was reputedly a lively place when Queen Makea was around in the 19th century. The building is now a picturesque ruin, and it is closed to the public, although officially it's still one of the island's main seats of power.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
. She was the ariki
Ariki
An Ariki , ‘Ariki , Aliki , Ali‘i , Ari'i or ‘Eiki is or was a member of a hereditary chiefly or noble rank in Polynesia.-Aotearoa Ariki:Political leadership or governance in Māori society has traditionally come from two...
(queen) of the dynasty Makea Nui (Great Makea), one of the three chiefdoms of the tribe Te Au O Tonga (The mist of the south) on the island of Rarotonga
Rarotonga
Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 , out of the country's total population of 19,569.The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga...
.
She succeeded her uncle Makea Abera Ariki in 1871. Her reign lasted forty years during a crucial time in the history of Rarotonga and the Cook Islands. It was under her reign that the Cook Islands became a British protectorate in 1888 before being annexed to New Zealand in 1900.
Family
Makea Takau was adopted by her uncle, Makea Davida, her birth mother was his sister, Makea Te Vaerua, Makea Takau's mother was the eldest daughter of Makea Pori ArikiMakea Pori Ariki
Makea Pori Ariki was a sovereign of the Cook Islands. He was the ariki of the dynasty Makea Nui , one of the three chiefdoms of the tribe Te Au O Tonga on the island of Rarotonga....
.
Succession
Makea Davida, was ariki of Te Au O Tonga from 1839 until 1849 and succeeded by his sister, Te Vaerua, until her death in 1857. She was succeeded by her younger brother Makea Daniela, until his death in 1866. He was succeeded by another brother, Makea Abera (also spelled Abela), who was in office until his death in 1871.Marriage
In the 1860s she married Ngamaru Rongotini Ariki, one of the three high chiefs of AtiuAtiu
Atiu, also known as Enuamanu , is an island lying at 187 km to the northeast of Rarotonga, in the Southern Islands group of the Cook Islands Archipelago.-Geography:...
and of the adjoining islands of Mauke
Mauke
Mauke is a raised atoll island, the eastern most of the Cook Islands.-Geography:...
, and Mitiaro
Mitiaro
Mitiaro, the fourth island in the Cook Islands group, is of volcanic origin. Standing in water 14,750 feet deep it is four miles across at its widest point.-Geography:...
. The war-like Prince Consort, Ngamaru, was less civilized than she; it was his way to threaten people who offended him, by making the "cannibal sign" at them—rapidly drawing his clenched fist across his teeth; the significance being: "I will tear you with my teeth!". Prince Ngamaru Rongotini died in 1903.
According to Beatrice Grimshaw
Beatrice Grimshaw
Beatrice Grimshaw was a writer based in Papua New Guinea.She was born in Dunmurry, County Antrim, Ireland. She worked as a freelance journalist in Dublin from 1891-1903 before moving to Papua, where she was to remain for twenty-seven years, and a close friend of Sir Hubert Murray.In 1936, she...
, a journalist from Ireland who visited in 1907, shortly after the death of Prince Ngamaru, it seems that it was a happy marriage.
"Their married life was a happy one, in spite of the prince's violent character, and when he died, the widowed queen took all her splendid robes of velvet, silk, and satin gorgeously trimmed with gold, tore them in fragments, and cast them into his grave, so that he might lie soft, as befitted the prince who had been loved so well by such a queen."
Reign
France's armed takeover of TahitiTahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
and the Society Islands
Society Islands
The Society Islands are a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. They are politically part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, the sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands;...
in 1843 caused considerable apprehension among the Cook Islands' ariki and led to requests from them to the British for protection in the event of French attack. This nervousness continued for many years and the call for protection was repeated in 1865 in a petition to Governor Grey of New Zealand.
During the 1870s the Cook Islands enjoyed prosperity and peace under the authority of Queen Makea, Makea Takau as she was known. A wily negotiator, she secured good prices for exports and cut the debts which had piled up before she became ariki. By 1882 four of the five ariki of Rarotonga were women. Since the sovereign of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
was Queen Victoria, Makea probably found it easier to achieve a paramount status. In 1888 she formally petitioned the British to set up a Protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
to head off what she believed to be imminent invasion by the French.
The British were reluctant administrators
Administrator of the Government
An Administrator in the constitutional practice of some countries in the Commonwealth is a person who fulfils a role similar to that of a Governor or a Governor-General...
and continued pressure was applied to them from New Zealand and from European residents of the islands to pass the Cook Islands over to New Zealand. The first British Resident was Frederick Moss
Frederick Moss
Frederick Joseph Moss was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Auckland, New Zealand.-Early life:He was born in Longwood, Saint Helena in 1827 or 1828, and moved to South Africa. He returned to Saint Helena in 1847. There, he married Emily Ann Carew in 1853 or 1854...
, a New Zealand politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who tried to help the local chiefs form a central government
Central government
A central government also known as a national government, union government and in federal states, the federal government, is the government at the level of the nation-state. The structure of central governments varies from institution to institution...
. In 1898 another New Zealander, Major W.E. Gudgeon
Walter Edward Gudgeon
Walter Edward Gudgeon CMG was born in London, England. He was a farmer, soldier, historian, land court judge and colonial administrator.-Early life:...
, a veteran of the New Zealand Maori wars, was made British Resident with the aim of paving the way for New Zealand to take over from Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as part of the expansionist ambitions of New Zealand's Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, Richard Seddon
Richard Seddon
Richard John Seddon , sometimes known as King Dick, is to date the longest serving Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is regarded by some, including historian Keith Sinclair, as one of New Zealand's greatest political leaders....
. This was not favored by Makea Takau who preferred the idea of being annexed to Britain. One of the results of the British annexation was freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
and a new influx of missionaries from different denominations. The first Roman Catholic church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
was dedicated in 1896.
After much maneuvering and politicking, the Cook Islands was formally annexed by New Zealand on October 7, 1900 when a deed
Deed
A deed is any legal instrument in writing which passes, or affirms or confirms something which passes, an interest, right, or property and that is signed, attested, delivered, and in some jurisdictions sealed...
of cession
Cession
The act of Cession, or to cede, is the assignment of property to another entity. In international law it commonly refers to land transferred by treaty...
was signed by five ariki and seven lesser chiefs without any debate or examination of its ramifications or implications.
Titles and styles
- 1871–1911 Makea Takau Ariki, 27th Makea Nui Ariki of the Te-Au-o-Tonga Tribe
- 1874–1911 Queen/Supreme High Chiefess of the Cook Islands
- 1888–1900 Leader of the Council of Chiefs
- 1891–1901 President of the Executive Council
Para O Tane Palace
In a shady park-like setting, in AvaruaAvarua
Avarua is a town and district in the north of Rarotonga Island, the national capital of the Cook Islands...
, are the Para O Tane Palace and its surrounding area, the Taputapuatea marae
Marae
A marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
. Named after a marae in the Society Islands, Taputapuatea was once the largest, most scared marae in Rarotonga. The palace is where Makea Takau, signed the treaty accepting the Cook Islands' status as a British protectorate on the 26th of October 1888. Beatrice Grimshaw gives a brief description of the palace during her visit to Rarotonga in 1907.
"We walked through the blazing hot sun of the tropic afternoon, down the palm-shaded main street of Avarua town, to the great grassy enclosure that surrounds the palace of the queen. One enters through a neat white gate; inside are one or two small houses, a number of palms and flowering bushes, and at the far end, a stately two-storeyed building constructed of whitewashed concrete, with big railed-in verandahs, and handsome arched windows. This is Makea's palace, but her visitors do not go there to look for her. In true South Sea Islander fashion, she keeps a house for show and one for use."
The palace was reputedly a lively place when Queen Makea was around in the 19th century. The building is now a picturesque ruin, and it is closed to the public, although officially it's still one of the island's main seats of power.
See also
- Kingdom of RarotongaKingdom of RarotongaThe Kingdom of Rarotonga, named after the island of Rarotonga, was an independent kingdom established in the present-day Cook Islands in 1858...
- History of the Cook IslandsHistory of the Cook IslandsThe Cook Islands are named after Captain James Cook, who visited the islands in 1773 and 1777. The Cook Islands became a British protectorate in 1888....
- House of ArikiHouse of ArikiThe House of Ariki is a parliamentary body in the Cook Islands. It is composed of Cook Islands high chiefs , appointed by the Queen's Representative...
- List of current constituent monarchs