Taranaki Landwars 1863
Then a really interesting rangatira, Wiremu Tamihana Tarapipi Te Waharoa. He is a very enthusiastic Maori Christian. But he is determined that Maori must not let the missionaries make decisions for them. He established his own Maori village, and began to write his own code of Maori law. He showed other Maori that the promises of the Treaty of Waitangi had not been kept, and said that Maori must have control of their own affairs. He believed that the British government had no right to stop this. So he began to urge the tribes of the Waikato to form their own government. He told them they must become like the Old Testament Jews and have their own king. And then in a great meeting in May 1857 at Rangiriri, many Maori agreed to create a kingship and in June 1858 they invited Te Wherowhero to become king. Te Wherowhero agreed and was formally anointed in May 1859 at Rangiaowhia when Tamihana held a bible above his head and named him King Potatau. When he died in 1860 his son, Matutaera became King Tawhaio. I suppose I can understand this, for his people, the people of Tainui, had never signed the Treaty.
Bishop Selwyn was very upset about their new king. He said that they were opposing Christ. And yet Wiremu Tamihana was a fine Christian and seemed a diligent British citizen. He would sometimes visit us and sing so beautifully in church...
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