KAWITI (?1774-1854), a fine old Maori warrior, was a chief of the Ngati-Hine hapu of Ngapuhi, and lived at Waiomio, near Kawakawa. In early life he took part in the expeditions of Ngapuhi. He was interested in the whites from the first, and got into friendly relations with Thomas Kendall on his visit in 1814, but remained a heathen almost to the end.

Though he signed the Treaty of Waitangi (1840), Kawiti was soon in active revolt against the colonists. Prompted mainly, it would seem, by curiosity and a desire to pit the prowess of the Maori against British soldiers, he entered eagerly into Heke's plans in 1844 for an attack on Kororareka, proposed a binding alliance, and opened hostilities by plundering the outlying settlers. His taua consisted of his own hapu, with men from the Roroa, Kapotai, Ngare-Hauata, Ngati-Pu and Ngati-Toki. Heke was somewhat jealous of Kawiti's mana in the early days of the rising. Approaching the town of Kororareka in the early morning of 11 Jan 1845, Kawiti's taua of 200 encountered the force landed from the warships, and after a sharp fight were repulsed. Kawiti's son and one of his leading chiefs (Pumuka) were amongst the 20 killed. At Puketutu Kawiti's division again suffered severely in a charge by the 58th Regiment. Coming to the help of Heke, he occupied the rising ground, and when driven out after a hard fight maintained a stiff rearguard action in the bush. Kawiti on this occasion was twice engaged hand-to-hand with soldiers and was slightly wounded; he escaped by lying concealed while the troops passed him. His losses were over 20 men, including his second son Taura.

At the suggestion of Heke, Kawiti then set about strengthening the pa at Ohaeawai, of which he doubled the capacity and improved the defences in a scientific manner. Attacking against the strong advice of Tamati Waka Nene (q.v.), Colonel Despard suffered a severe reverse, and the Maori then retired. Determined that any further fighting should be on his own land, Kawiti constructed a strong pa at Ruapekapeka. He declined repeated overtures of peace, and prepared to meet the attack. On 9 Jan 1846 the artillery started a severe bombardment which lasted all day; Kawiti's two guns being silenced early. Believing that Sunday would be observed as Ra-tapu, Kawiti that night retired to the rear of the pa to rest. At dawn the abandoned breastwork was reconnoitred by the friendlies, and the troops were enabled to effect their entry unopposed into the main part of the pa. Alarmed too late, Kawiti fired one volley into the enemy and escaped to the bush in the rear, where Heke's troops were holding church service. After a fruitless effort to recover the work the insurgents withdrew. Embittered against Heke for his supposed lukewarm co-operation, Kawiti on 29 Jan offered to make peace. He was afterwards reconciled with Nene, and lived quietly for the rest of his life.

Unlike other leading chiefs of the north, Kawiti refused until old age to accept the Christian religion. At the suggestion of the Rev Henry Williams (q.v.) he attended divine service for the first time in Nov 1851, and he moved his residence to Pakaraka to be close to his friend. On 2 Feb 1853 he was baptised (taking the name of Te Ruku, Duke). He died on 5 May 1854. Kawiti stuck tenaciously to the native customs of chivalry.

His son, MAIHI PARAONE KAWITI, who took control of the tribe, was a good Christian. In Jan 1858, as a token of lasting peace, he re-erected the flagstaff on the hill at Kororareka. When the King movement was inaugurated Maihi was offered, but declined, the King governorship of the northern district. A conservative Maori of the old school, he wielded great influence amongst the Ngapuhi. He died at Waiomio on 21 May 1888.

Buller; Carleton; Marsden, L. and J.; S. P. Smith, Wars; Cowan (p); Buick, First War (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 243

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