IWI / HAPU AFFILIATIONS
Eru Tamaikoha belonged to the Ngāti Tama hapu of Waimana. His
father was Te Ariari o Tu and his mother was Tiramate. Tamaikoha
could trace his whakapapa back to the
original people of Te Urewera, Te Hapuoneone. Tamaikoha was a
significant Tuhoe leader whose generation fought tirelessly to
prevent the loss of land to Government forces. He experienced the
intense loss of political and social autonomy and later suffered
the same indignity experienced by other leaders of having to prove
who he was, where his lands were and why he should be able to
retain them. Eru was also known as Erueti Tamaikoha.
Tamaikoha visited Auckland as a defence witness in the case of
Regina versus Himiona, a sensational trial involving witchcraft and
murder. The Bay of Plenty Times reported the
visit:
The renowned fighting chief of Te Urewera arrived yesterday per
Rowena from Opotiki en route for Auckland, as a witness for, the
defence in the case, of Regina vs Himiona, the Te Teko murderer. We
advise; our Auckland: friends who have not yet seen a real specimen
of the cannibal to interview Mr Tamaikoha during his stay in their
city; This native has never, been to sea before either in a canoe
or a boat, and expresses the greatest wonder at the steamer
Rowena.1
Perhaps Lindauer took the opportunity to attend the proceeding
and create this portrait of Tamaikoha. This portrait was painted in
1903 and Tamaikoha died on 5 September 1915. 2
NM
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