Tohu Kakahi
Encyclopedia
Tohu Kakahi was a Māori leader and prophet at Parihaka
, who along with Te Whiti o Rongomai
organised passive resistance against the occupation of Taranaki in the 1870s in New Zealand
.
Details of Tohu's early life are unclear. According to some descendents he but he was born at Puketapu on 22 January 1828, although other locations and dates have been claimed. He was regarded as a teacher and prophet and it is said Tohu confirmed Pōtatau Te Wherowhero
's son Tawhiao as the second Māori King, and was his spiritual adviser.
Along with other members of Te Ati Awa, Tohu fought in the Taranaki War
s in the 1860s and was one of the leaders at the attack on the redoubt of Te Morere by a Pai Marire
war party. Following this, he joined his relative Te Whiti o Rongomai
at Parihaka
, south Taranaki in leading passive resistance to confiscation of Maori land.
When the Waimate Plain was surveyed in 1879. Māori asserted their land rights by removing survey pegs and by ploughing and fencing across roads and settler claimed areas. Many arrests of the Māori ploughmen were made, but the campaign had wide support by other iwi. In November 1881 the village of Parihaka was occupied by Government troops and Tohu was arrested along with Te Whiti and hundreds of others.
Tohu and Te Whiti were charged with "wickedly, maliciously, and seditiously contriving and intending to disturb the peace" but they were never brought to trial. Tohu was released in 1883 and returned to Parihaka but the arrests and dispersion had reduced the population and importance of Parihaka. Tohu continued to advocate traditional Māori values, and opposed alcohol and European influences at Parihaka until his death in 1907.
Parihaka
Parihaka is a small community in Taranaki Region, New Zealand, located between Mount Taranaki and the Tasman Sea. In the 1870s and 1880s the settlement, then reputed to be the largest Māori village in New Zealand, became the centre of a major campaign of non-violent resistance to European...
, who along with Te Whiti o Rongomai
Te Whiti o Rongomai
Te Whiti o Rongomai III was a Māori spiritual leader and founder of the village of Parihaka, in New Zealand's Taranaki region.-Biography:...
organised passive resistance against the occupation of Taranaki in the 1870s in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Details of Tohu's early life are unclear. According to some descendents he but he was born at Puketapu on 22 January 1828, although other locations and dates have been claimed. He was regarded as a teacher and prophet and it is said Tohu confirmed Pōtatau Te Wherowhero
Potatau Te Wherowhero
Pōtatau I, Māori King was a Māori warrior, leader of the Waikato tribes, the first Māori King and founder of the Te Wherowhero royal dynasty. He was first known as simply Te Wherowhero and took the name Pōtatau after he became king...
's son Tawhiao as the second Māori King, and was his spiritual adviser.
Along with other members of Te Ati Awa, Tohu fought in the Taranaki War
Taranaki War
There have been two conflicts known as the Taranaki War:*The First Taranaki War *The Second Taranaki War Both conflicts are so named because they took place in the Taranaki region, on the North Island of New Zealand. A third conflict, Titokowaru's War also took place in Taranaki....
s in the 1860s and was one of the leaders at the attack on the redoubt of Te Morere by a Pai Marire
Pai Marire
The Pai Mārire movement was a syncretic Māori religion that flourished in New Zealand from about 1863 to 1874. Founded in Taranaki by the prophet Te Ua Haumene, it incorporated Biblical and Māori spiritual elements and promised its followers deliverance from Pākehā domination, providing a...
war party. Following this, he joined his relative Te Whiti o Rongomai
Te Whiti o Rongomai
Te Whiti o Rongomai III was a Māori spiritual leader and founder of the village of Parihaka, in New Zealand's Taranaki region.-Biography:...
at Parihaka
Parihaka
Parihaka is a small community in Taranaki Region, New Zealand, located between Mount Taranaki and the Tasman Sea. In the 1870s and 1880s the settlement, then reputed to be the largest Māori village in New Zealand, became the centre of a major campaign of non-violent resistance to European...
, south Taranaki in leading passive resistance to confiscation of Maori land.
When the Waimate Plain was surveyed in 1879. Māori asserted their land rights by removing survey pegs and by ploughing and fencing across roads and settler claimed areas. Many arrests of the Māori ploughmen were made, but the campaign had wide support by other iwi. In November 1881 the village of Parihaka was occupied by Government troops and Tohu was arrested along with Te Whiti and hundreds of others.
Tohu and Te Whiti were charged with "wickedly, maliciously, and seditiously contriving and intending to disturb the peace" but they were never brought to trial. Tohu was released in 1883 and returned to Parihaka but the arrests and dispersion had reduced the population and importance of Parihaka. Tohu continued to advocate traditional Māori values, and opposed alcohol and European influences at Parihaka until his death in 1907.