Te Kooti, who did
not join the Pai Maarire movement, fought alongside Government forces
and pro-government Māori in the siege of Waeranga-a-Hika, against
Pai Maarire Hauhaus. However, he was accused of supplying ammunition
to the insiders of the pa at Waerenga a Hika. Te Kooti's brother,
Komene, a Pai Maarire adept, was inside the pa at the time.
These suspicions led to Te Kooti being arrested, but he was later
released due to lack of evidence. Although Te Kooti had never actually
taken up arms against the Government, he was re-arrested in 1866
on spying charges, and deported to the Chatham Islands (off the
South Island coast). This was also a time when the Government was
endeavouring to carry out large scale land confiscation - yet Te
Kooti's enemies were not only European - he had also made bitter
enemies among his fellow Māori.
In 1867 during his confinement on the Chathams, Te Kooti founded
the Ringatu movement, which was based on Hauhauism. Te Kooti had
seen two visions ; a lizard, and a flame which did not burn. The
lizard was feared in ancient times, as it was considered to be the
vehicle of Whiro, the god who personified all that is evil. In ancient
Māori mythology, should the gods wish to kill a person they
would invoke a lizard to enter into the person's the body. The lizard
would eat away the main body functions, and the person would die.
As a counteraction to the lizard, the non-burning flame in Te Kooti's
vision was seen as life giving, and therefore transforming.
Ringatu stood for "The Upraised Hand". This referred to Te Kooti
and his followers practice of raising their right hands after prayers.
Ringatu was also born of a mixture of Old Testament beliefs. The
Ringatu followers identified themselves with the Israelites escaping
from Pharaoh, and returning to their promised land. Most of Te Kooti's
fellow prisoners became converted to the Ringatu cult. Te Kooti
was considered to be the spokesman of God.
On 4th July 1868 Te Kooti escaped from the Chathams by an ingenious
and well organised plan. On this same day the schooner "Rifleman"
laid anchor at the Chathams, to deliver supplies. Te Kooti and his
fellow prisoners overcame the Island guards, and captured "The Rifleman",
taking the crew completely by surprise. There was reportedly only
one European casualty during the take-over.
"The Rifleman", now under Te Kooti's command, left the Chathams
with nearly all prisoners aboard and set sail for Whareongaonga,
on the east coast, to the south of Turanga. They arrived here on
10th July, whereupon Te Kooti released the crew of "The Rifleman",
reportedly without harm. On hearing of Te Kooti's escape, the army
officer who had originally deported Te Kooti to the Chathams sent
a message ordering Te Kooti and his men to surrender. Te Kooti,
who had warned that he would not fight unless attacked himself,
declined the offer of surrender. He and his followers were now well
armed with ammunition taken from "The Rifleman".
A group of Europeans and pro-government Māori were then gathered
with the aim of capturing Te Kooti.
(Great Britain decided to withdraw the British Imperial troops
from New Zealand. The last of these troops left in 1870. The British
Government had decided that the Governor of New Zealand, Governor
Grey, was incapable of quelling the Māori rebellion. The British
Government felt that the Wars would simply continue indefinitely,
and become too costly for a far off nation to maintain. After the
withdrawal of the British troops, colonial militia with pro-government
Māori allies made up the fighting force in New Zealand.)
According to the Telegraph Service, which had just opened between
Napier and Wellington, 40 military settlers and 80 pro-government
Māori made their way on 14th July 1868 to Turanga (Gisborne) where
Te Kooti and his followers had settled. While trying to take Te
Kooti during a battle at Matawhero, the officer leading the raid,
along with a number of European and Māori were killed.
Te Kooti subsequently captured around 300 local Māori
during raids which followed around the district. After more raids,
and continually on the run, Te Kooti finally remained between the
years of 1873 and 1883 at Te Kuiti, in the King Country, where he
was protected by the Māori King Tawhiao.
(Tawhiao was declared King on the death of his
father, Te Wherowhero. Te Wherowhero is the family name of Māori
kings. Tawhiao, full name Matutaera Te Pukepuke Te Paue Te Karato
Te-A-Potatau Tawhiao Te Wherowhero, born 1825, fought in battles
against the Europeans during the land wars. He died in 1894.
During the 1850's, growing discontent with the
continuing sale of land led to the uniting of a group of tribes
in the Waikato area, forming a federation. In 1858 a King was elected,
Te Wherowhero, who became known as King Potatau. The federation
became known as the King Movement, and was based in what became
known as the King Country. )
In 1883, the Government formally pardoned
Te Kooti, and from this date Te Kooti lived at Otewa, between Kihikihi
and Te Kuiti - but he was not happy here. He wanted land that he
could claim as his own. In 1891 the Government finally gave Te Kooti
an area of land at Wainui, where a marae for the Ringatu church
was established after Te Kooti's death at Te Karaka, on 17th April