Te Mamaku
Encyclopedia
Hemi Topine Te Mamaku, c1790- June 1887. Maori Chief.
Born and raised in the Wanganui
area. During the Musket Wars
Te Mamaku was sometimes allied with Te Rauparaha
and sometimes fought against him.
However at the outbreak of the Hutt Valley Campaign
in 1846 he was firmly on the side of Te Rangihaeata
in resisting the encroachment of European settlers onto Maori land. Te Mamaku and warriors of his hapu
were with Te Rangihaeata in the attack on Boulcott's Farm in May 1846. Afterwards, he sent letters to other chiefs in the Wanganui area urging them to join in the conflict. Some were intercepted and forwarded to the government, which may have precipitated George Grey
's decision to arrest Te Rauparaha.
Returning to Wanganui in September 1846, Te Mamuku told the 200 European settlers that he had no quarrel with them and would protect them from attack by other Maori, but that he would not tolerate the presence of government troops. Naturally, two months later, the government decided to station troops at Wanganui.
There was some skirmishing, but nothing serious. Then in April 1847 a Maori was executed for the murder of a settler family. Te Mamaku reckoned he should have been handed over to tribal justice. Raids on the outlying farms intensified and then, in May, Te Mamaku led the war party that began a serious siege of the town. Neither side was particularly keen to attack the other until July when there was an inconclusive battle. Casualties were similar on both sides and honour was satisfied so the Wanganui Campaign
was over. It was to be seventeen years before there was any further fighting between Maori and Pakeha in the district.
In 1857 Te Mamaku was offered the Maori Kingship. He declined, but he did join the King Movement in their opposition to the sale of Maori land. He did not get involved in the Battle of Moutoa Island
but was probably fighting alongside the Hau Hau forces at Ohoutahi, Second Taranaki War
.
Despite this, within a few years he was regarded as a man of peace and had the respect of the government. He opposed Te Kooti
but was firm in his belief that the King Country
was sacrosanct Maori territory even to the extent of executing one man who persisted in entering the area. In 1880 he joined Kepa te Rangihiwinui
in trust to protect the Maori land of the upper Wanganui River from sale to the Pakeha.
However in his later years he appears to have accepted many of the changes that Europeanization brought to his area.
He died June 1887 at Taumarunui
.
Born and raised in the Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
area. During the Musket Wars
Musket Wars
The Musket Wars were a series of five hundred or more battles mainly fought between various hapū , sometimes alliances of pan-hapū groups and less often larger iwi of Māori between 1807 and 1842, in New Zealand.Northern tribes such as the rivals Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Whātua were the first to obtain...
Te Mamaku was sometimes allied with Te Rauparaha
Te Rauparaha
Te Rauparaha was a Māori rangatira and war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe who took a leading part in the Musket Wars. He was influential in the original sale of conquered Rangitane land to the New Zealand Company and was a participant in the Wairau Incident in Marlborough...
and sometimes fought against him.
However at the outbreak of the Hutt Valley Campaign
Hutt Valley Campaign
The Hutt Valley Campaign of 1846 during the New Zealand land wars could almost be seen as a sequel to the Wairau Affray. The causes were similar and the protagonists almost the same...
in 1846 he was firmly on the side of Te Rangihaeata
Te Rangihaeata
Te Rangihaeata , was a Ngāti Toa chief, nephew of Te Rauparaha. He had a leading part in the Wairau Affray and the Hutt Valley Campaign.-Early life:...
in resisting the encroachment of European settlers onto Maori land. Te Mamaku and warriors of his hapu
Hapu
A hapū is sometimes described as "the basic political unit within Maori society".A named division of a Māori iwi , membership is determined by genealogical descent; a hapū is made up of a number of whānau groups. Generally hapū range in size from 150-200 although there is no upper limit...
were with Te Rangihaeata in the attack on Boulcott's Farm in May 1846. Afterwards, he sent letters to other chiefs in the Wanganui area urging them to join in the conflict. Some were intercepted and forwarded to the government, which may have precipitated George Grey
George Edward Grey
Sir George Grey, KCB was a soldier, explorer, Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony , the 11th Premier of New Zealand and a writer.-Early life and exploration:...
's decision to arrest Te Rauparaha.
Returning to Wanganui in September 1846, Te Mamuku told the 200 European settlers that he had no quarrel with them and would protect them from attack by other Maori, but that he would not tolerate the presence of government troops. Naturally, two months later, the government decided to station troops at Wanganui.
There was some skirmishing, but nothing serious. Then in April 1847 a Maori was executed for the murder of a settler family. Te Mamaku reckoned he should have been handed over to tribal justice. Raids on the outlying farms intensified and then, in May, Te Mamaku led the war party that began a serious siege of the town. Neither side was particularly keen to attack the other until July when there was an inconclusive battle. Casualties were similar on both sides and honour was satisfied so the Wanganui Campaign
Wanganui Campaign
The Wanganui Campaign was centered on the settlement that eventually became the city of Wanganui, New Zealand, which was established in 1841. By 1846 it had some two hundred European settlers. Following the conflict in the north, known as the Flagstaff War and the recent and nearby Hutt Valley...
was over. It was to be seventeen years before there was any further fighting between Maori and Pakeha in the district.
In 1857 Te Mamaku was offered the Maori Kingship. He declined, but he did join the King Movement in their opposition to the sale of Maori land. He did not get involved in the Battle of Moutoa Island
Moutoa Island
Moutoa Island is an island of shingle approximately 500 metres long, eighty kilometres up the Whanganui River, New Zealand between the towns of Ranana and Hiruharama....
but was probably fighting alongside the Hau Hau forces at Ohoutahi, Second Taranaki War
Second Taranaki War
-Background and causes of the war:The conflict in Taranaki had its roots in the First Taranaki War, which had ended in March 1861 with an uneasy truce. Neither side fulfilled the terms of the truce, leaving many of the issues unresolved...
.
Despite this, within a few years he was regarded as a man of peace and had the respect of the government. He opposed Te Kooti
Te Kooti
Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki was a Māori leader, the founder of the Ringatu religion and guerrilla.While fighting alongside government forces against the Hauhau in 1865, he was accused of spying. Exiled to the Chatham Islands without trial along with captured Hauhau, he experienced visions and...
but was firm in his belief that the King Country
King Country
The King Country is a region of the western North Island of New Zealand. It extends approximately from the Kawhia Harbour and the town of Otorohanga in the north to the upper reaches of the Whanganui River in the south, and from the Hauhungaroa and Rangitoto Ranges in the east to near the Tasman...
was sacrosanct Maori territory even to the extent of executing one man who persisted in entering the area. In 1880 he joined Kepa te Rangihiwinui
Kepa Te Rangihiwinui
Kepa Te Rangihiwinui was Māori military commander and noted ally of the government forces during the New Zealand Wars. He was also known as Te Kepa, or Major Kepa or sometimes as Major Kemp. Te Kepa was a member of the Ngati Hau tribe or iwi...
in trust to protect the Maori land of the upper Wanganui River from sale to the Pakeha.
However in his later years he appears to have accepted many of the changes that Europeanization brought to his area.
He died June 1887 at Taumarunui
Taumarunui
Taumarunui is a town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 4 and the North Island Main Trunk Railway....
.