TE WHIWHI O TE RANGI, MATENE (1805-81) was a son of Rangikapiki and Topeora (q.v.), and therefore a grandson of Waitohi, sister of Te Rauparaha. His father was of Ngati-Raukawa, and his own hapu was Ngati-Huia, a branch of Ngati-Raukawa, but he had also Ngati-Toa blood. Coming south with the Tahutahuahi heke (1821), he and his cousin Katu (Tamihana te Rauparaha, q.v.) early adopted a friendly attitude towards Christianity. In 1839, against the wishes of the older chiefs, they made a voyage to Bay of Islands to obtain a missionary for Cook Strait. On being baptised, Te Whiwhi took the names Henare Matene (Henry Martyn). He married a daughter of Te Rangihaeata (q.v.). Te Whiwhi signed the Treaty of Waitangi (1840). He soon adopted European dress and dwelling, and set an example of civilised life to his tribesmen at Otaki. With Tamihana he made a long and daring voyage in a small vessel round the South Island to introduce Christianity to the Ngai-Tahu and other tribes (1843). He exerted himself to keep the tribes calm during the hostilities of the forties, and for many years after peace was restored he was a friendly influence in the district. At the same time he was a strong advocate of the rights of the Maori people, and opposed earnestly measures which he believed would tend to destroy their nationality.

Te Whiwhi appreciated the moral deterioration that must follow on the loss of Maori nationality, and has sometimes been regarded as the originator of the King movement. The initial steps which he took in that episode were dictated by motives that were fully patriotic and, in the opinion of Maori sympathisers, fully justified. Imbued by Tamihana te Rauparaha with ideas of a unified state which he had acquired in England, he made his first journey in 1853 to Taupo and put forward his proposal for the election of a Maori king for the part of the North Island which was entirely native. Te Heuheu refused to consider any proposals which might result in a chief other than himself being elected to the supreme position. The Rotorua and Maketu chiefs followed his example and the meeting failed, only to be resumed more successfully in later years. In 1854 a meeting held in the Ngati-Ruanui pa of Manawapou resulted in the creation of the Land League, to stop the alienation of native lands. Then Te Heuheu (q.v.) called his meeting at Pukawa in 1854, at which it was decided to set apart the King Country, to elect a King and council and not to sell land to the government. In 1857 King meetings were held at Paetai (Waikato) and Ihumatao (Manukau), at which Te Wherowhero agreed to be King, and in 1858 the flag was hoisted at Ngaruawahia. In 1860 at Otaki the runanga refused to take part in the Taranaki war.

Early in 1870 Te Whiwhi tried to compose the differences of the Hauhau. In 1871, with D. McLean, he visited the Bay of Plenty, and after the wars he visited all the tribes in New Zealand to assure himself that they were settled. The last visited was the Urewera in 1876. In his own tribe Te Whiwhi showed a fine example, and was head of the teetotal society at Otaki. His wife Pipi (Phoebe) died at Otaki on 14 Jan 1857, and Te Whiwhi on 29 Sep 1881. (See OCTAVIUS HADFIELD.)

Atl). H.R., 1853-74, pass; Buller; Tucker; Carleton; Jacobs; W. Williams; Selwyn, Annals; Cowan, i; Power.

Reference: Volume 2, page 254

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