IWI / HAPU AFFILIATIONS

Watch an interview with Rovina Maniapoto - Anderson.

Rewi Manga Maniapoto belonged to the Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Otawhao people of Kihikihi and Te Awamutu. His father was Te Ngohi and his mother Te Kore. Rewi Manga Maniapoto was educated to the ways of Ngāti Maniapoto. He married Te Rohu and they both survived their daughter who died at Kihikihi around 1890-1891.

Maniapoto was famed for his oratory skills, his tenacity in military campaigns, and his political acumen. His knowledge of Ngāti Maniapoto tradition and customs was significant. He was also Ngāti Maniapoto's critical supporter of the Kīngitanga, or Māori King movement.¹ Rewi Manga Maniapoto would break away from the vision of the Kīngitanga in 1882. His endorsement and agreement to allow surveyors to scope out the main-trunk railway lines to pass through the King Country became a controversial turning point in his life.² He later retracted this agreement asking instead for Maniapoto self-government and control over their own lands in exchange for the railway passing through the King Country.³ This agreement eventually led to the opening up of the King Country to the Crown and settlers.⁴

In April 1902 Te Ahipu Tukorehu, Maniapoto's relative from Kihikihi visited the Lindauer Art Gallery in Auckland and left a comment in the Māori Visitors' Book:

He nui te koa o tōku ngākau i tōku kitenga i taku tupuna i a Rewi Maniapoto, me taku whakapai hoki ki a Paateriti mō tana tiaki i ngā whakaahua o ngā rangatira Māori.

Tupotahi Tukorehu, Rewi's uri and Te Aroa visited the Lindauer Art Gallery in 24 May 1902 and left this heartfelt comment.

Ko tā māua nei haere mai he hiahia kia kite i te whakaahua o Manga. Heoi, tangi ana maua...

We are here because we wanted to see the painting of Manga. We wept...

NM