REWI MANGA MANIAPOTO (? 1815-94), one of the last fighting chiefs of the Ngati-Maniapoto, was a man of high rank, claiming descent from Hoturoa, who navigated the Tainui canoe to New Zealand, and was related to Te Heuheu Iwikau. His father was one of the chiefs of the taua from Waikato which took Pukerangiora (1831) and he accompanied his father on this campaign. Coming under the influence of the Roman Catholic missionaries, he was baptised as Rewi, a name that he renounced in the height of the King movement.

On the outbreak of the Taranaki war Rewi was sent to inquire into the causes of the quarrel, and Waikato and Ngati-Maniapoto acted upon his report that the resistance of Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake (q.v.) was justified. Rewi showed great courage in the Taranaki fighting. He was one of the leaders in the desperate night attack on No. 3 redoubt at Huirangi, which was repulsed with great loss. He took Wiremu Kingi back with him to Kihikihi. Moved by the conviction that the government intended to undermine Maori nationality, he threw himself with fiery energy into the King movement. It was he who hoisted the King flag at the meeting at Ngaruawahia when Potatau was elected King. He was regarded as the King's prime minister and was (T. S. Grace says), "a far greater man than the King himself." He did actually resent the King's trying to exercise influence over his tribe (Ngati-Maniapoto).

When Gorst (q.v.) arrived at Te Awamutu charged with the duty of inaugurating English civilisation and education amongst the Maori, Rewi adopted an attitude of stern hostility. He personally warned Gorst to leave, and wrote to Governor Grey a letter, which was never answered, exhorting him to remove his representative before he came to harm. The Waikato and Ngati-Haua sections of the Kingite Maori condemned Rewi's conduct, since the land at Te Awamutu was in possession of the King; but he persisted in his opposition, took offence at Gorst's paper, Pihoihoi Mokemoke, and organised a party to remove the offending magistrate. He looked on while Aporo sacked the office of the paper and ejected Gorst from his post (24 Mar 1863). Though he maintained that he was averse to fighting, and his sincerity is beyond question, the impetuosity of Rewi did much to precipitate war. When he received a letter from the King meeting at Mataitawa (Taranaki) reporting that the Governor had completed the barracks at Tataraimaka Rewi replied, without consulting his fellow chiefs, "Strike the pakeha!" He himself mustered a taua and moved to Hangatiki with the intention of creating a diversion by canoeing down the Waikato river and raiding the settlements at Te Ia. Overruled by Wiremu Tamihana and others, he led his men into the Hunua forest. Rewi fought with great energy throughout the Waikato campaign. It was against his advice that the King forces made their stand at Orakau in a weak position chosen by the older men. For three days they held out against an overwhelming British force, replying to General Cameron's demand to surrender with the historic defiance: "Ka whawhai tonu, ake, ake, ake!" ("I will fight on for ever and ever"). Eventually he decided to evacuate the pa in the night and the operation was carried out, successfully, though with the loss of about half of the Maori force. Reaching the Puniu river, Rewi halted to rest the remnant of his force (about 60 men) and then retreated into the heart of the King country.

Though he was not a practising Christian, Rewi insisted that the campaign should be carried on according to the customs of the pakeha, and sternly discountenanced mutilation of the dead and other ancient observances with regard to them. Early in the war a reward was offered for his apprehension, but no further steps were taken against him and the government had good reason in later years to value the influence which he exerted in improving the relations between the two races. He welcomed Sir Donald McLean's visit to Waikato in 1869 as "a streak of light before the dawn." When Te Kooti visited Waikato in that year to obtain assistance from the King tribes Rewi accompanied him back to Taupo to see whether he was as invincible as was supposed. After Te Kooti's defeat at Porere Rewi returned to Waikato, angrily declaring that Te Kooti's gods were imposters. In later years Rewi's influence was eclipsed by that of Tamati Ngapora (q.v.). When he relented towards the government and desired to meet the Duke of Edinburgh at Ngaruawahia it was Tamati who objected and prevailed. Nevertheless Manga, as Rewi was called after the war, was always a man of importance in the King country, and he exerted his influence constantly in the interests of the Maori and of good fellowship with the pakeha. He saved the life of James Mackay (q.v.) in 1873 when his investigations into the death of Timothy Sullivan at Pukekura brought him into disfavour with the King natives.

In 1879, at the invitation of the Native Minister (Hon J. Sheehan), Rewi paid his first visit to Auckland for twenty years. He received a cordial welcome, both popular and official, attended many banquets, and returned to Waikato in company with the Governor (Sir Hercules Robinson). In 1883 he joined in the petition from the King country against land-selling, drink and immorality, and he resisted successfully the endeavour to introduce liquor amongst the King Maoris by licensing a public-house at Otorohanga. Once more, in 1890, Rewi visited Auckland by invitation to participate in the jubilee celebrations. He was for some years in frail health and lived quietly at Kihikihi in a house built for him by the government. There Seddon visited him in Mar 1894. In Apr at the public expense a monument was erected to Rewi as "an upholder of good between the European and Maori nations and a constant supporter of the seal of the treaty of Waitangi." Two months later, on 21 Jun 1894, he died, widely honoured by both races. Physically Rewi was below the average height and somewhat slender. Europeans found him after the war careworn, sad and thoughtful.

App. H.R., 1860-80, pass.; T. S. Grace (p); Gorst, Maori King and N.Z. Revisited (p); Cowan (p); Sketches (p); White (p); N.Z. Herald, 23 Jun 1894 (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 116

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