NGAPORA, TAMATI, or MANUHIRI (?1804-85), a chief of very high rank in the NgatiMahuta tribe of Waikato, was a near relative of Te Wherowhero and old enough to bear arms at the time of the siege of Matakitaki by Ngapuhi (1821). As a young man he took part in the expeditions against Taranaki in 1829-30. With his wife and daughter he was early converted to Christianity. When Te Wherowhero and the Ngati-Mahuta were settled by Governor Grey at Mangere (on the south shore of Manukau harbour), Ngapora made his home there and was appointed an assessor. On 3 Apr 1848 he wrote an important letter on the state of the Maori people. A deeply religious man, he acted as native pastor (wearing clerical costume) and during 1850-53 he built a stone church in the village, raising the funds himself and doing much of the work.

When Te Wherowhero left Mangere, he deputed Ngapora to take his place as the organ of communication between the Government and the Waikato people. After the King meeting at Waikato in 1858 he reported to the Governor on the position. He favoured Potatau as chief of the Waikato tribe, but not as King. In 1858 Te Wherowhero declared Ngapora his successor in the Kingship, but Wi Tamihana te Waharoa appointed Tawhiao. Ngapora was a close friend and confidant of Sir William and Lady Martin, who found him gentlemanly, unassuming, generous and peaceable. Martin said: "I have seldom seen anyone so steady or so well balanced in mind as he is." When Sir George Grey arrived as Governor in 1861 Ngapora persuaded the King leaders at Ngaruawahia to send a deputation to him, but under Rewi's influence it demanded separation and independence. Ngapora deplored the outbreak of the Waikato war (1863), but when the Maori residents at Mangere were called upon to take the oath or leave for the other side of the aukati, he responded to his tribal promptings and took his departure, sadly enough. He was a man of peace and took no part in the hostilities. He lost his home and the church became a barracks. His education and intelligence, together with his mana as the King's uncle, soon gave him a strong position. He was a respected adviser, who for years enjoyed the authority of prime minister. Greatly disillusioned and embittered by the war, he leaned towards Hauhauism, and for some years signed himself "Tamati Pai Marire." When Waikato at length evacuated their territory, Ngapora went with them to Tokangamutu (Te Kuiti). It was then that he changed his name to Manuhiri, or "sojourner," owing to his people having to live amongst the Ngati-Maniapoto. When Matutaera married his daughter Ngapora's mana increased, and he became virtually King. In 1869 he resisted Te Kooti's appeal for help from the King tribes, and he hurried from a feast at Kawhia to stop Wetere's party from going to Taranaki; but the tragedy at White Cliffs could not be prevented. He was now unrelenting towards the pakeha. He alone stood out against the proposed visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to the King Country, and he insisted on the full demands of the King movement for self-government. Sir William Martin, whose respect for Tamati was unimpaired, urged him in statesmanlike letters to conform to the rule of the Queen, but the wrongs of his race and his own injured pride had hardened his heart, and he would not now abate any of the pretensions of the King movement; he wanted the return of the whole of Waikato.

A strong rivalry developed between Ngapora and Rewi in the late sixties. Rewi, an old man, wished to see the end of hostility to the pakeha and condemned the intransigence of Ngapora. In 1873 Ngapora strongly reproved the murderer of Ruru for his attack on the Government agent (James Mackay, q.v.). In 1878 Sir George Grey persuaded cabinet to offer him a pension, since he was too old to be a member of the Legislative Council. A pension of £210 was offered. Ngapora declined it, but under pressure by his grandson, Tu Tawhiao, he accepted a sum of money. Eventually in 1880 he accepted the pension through the persuasion of W. G. Mair (q.v.). He also had returned to him the Old Testament which he left at the Tamaki church in 1863. He died at Whatiwhatihoe on 4 Aug 1885, having for some years enjoyed a pension of £80 a year.

Ngapora was of medium height and fine physique, robust and active even in advanced years. He was closely tattooed. In council he was quiet, reserved and dignified, and firm to the verge of obstinacy.

App. H.R., 1863 F3, pass.; GBOP., 1849/1120; Cowan, Wars; Sketches (p); Gorst; Martin; Cowie; Bowen; Firth; J. C. Firth's Conference with Tamati Ngapora, 1869; Lady Martin, Our Maoris, p. 166-68; Carey, p. 38; Rusden; N.Z. Herald, 6 Aug 1885.

Reference: Volume 2, page 63

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