Te Whiti -O- Rongomai biography

Te Whiti -O- Rongomai


Te Whiti -O- Rogomai was born in 1830 during the musket wars in a little village called Ngamotu Taranaki. Te Whiti was the son of a minor chief named Hone Kakahi, his mum was Rangiwau daughter of Te Whetu. Te Whiti was educated at Reimenschneider’s Mission School at Warea. There he showed remarkable skills in bible studies. Later he was identified as a teacher. When Te Whiti left school he started a job at a flour mill at Warea.

Later in his life he moved to Parihaka. By 1870 Parihaka became the biggest village in the country. In 1879 the Pakeha (Europeans) invaded the the Maori land and in 1881 the Europeans took over the land and Treated the maori cruely. While that was happening Te Whiti and his best friend Tohu were chosen to be the leaders of the Parihaka movement, they were chosen because they believed in non-violence. Both men were friendly to all races only if the Maori people could own land and the respect from the Europeans. They wanted to challenge the Europeans for taking the land unfairly, but Te Whiti and Tohu did not allow the use arms and discouraged greed and violence. By 1880 hundreds of men were taken to prison in South Island. While that was happening Te Whiti and Tohu ran a meeting with two European government officials. they were trying to win back the land but the Europeans refused and sent them to prison.

When Te Whiti and Tohu were in prison they learned how to use European technology. People believe that Te Whiti was the first person in the country who used a telephone, this was at a Christchurch railway. Also Te Whiti learned how to use a mechanical saw to cut plate steel. In 1883 Te Whiti and Tohu were released while others were still imprisoned. Their families tried very hard to get the men back but died of the poor conditions they were living in. Because Te Whiti refused to run the meetings he was assaulted and taken away to prison with his co-worker Titokowaru.
In 1888 before Te Whiti was released, his wife died, he was not allowed to attend his wifes funeral. Soon everything started to go back to normal. Parihaka was thought to be ahead of its time as they had lighting drainage and running water. Parihaka after the 19 years of imprisonment and all the prisoners were let out.

 Te Whiti died in 1907 being the age of 77 but we still remember about his great accomplishments.

I find Te Whiti an inspirational leader because he stood for what he thought  was right, fought for freedom without the use of weapons, never gave up even when all seemed lost he fought back and in the end he won the land back.

By David Balayan