TOHU KAKAHI, a Taranaki prophet and for many years the colleague of Te Whiti, was born a few years before the Treaty of Waitangi (1840). He belonged to several hapus of Taranaki and (like Te Whiti) was closely related to Te Wharepouri (q.v.) and to the tribes Ngati-Mahanga and Ngati-Ruanui. He was educated at the mission school at Warea under Riemenschneider, from whom he obtained a thorough grounding in the Scriptures. Tohu is believed as a young man to have taken the field in the wars against the pakeha and to have been present at a number of engagements, including the ambush at Waitara, and the attack on Mace's force at Warea (Oct 1865). It is said he was present at Sentry Hill (Apr 1864) but carried only a tokotoko. Tohu and Te Whiti became imbued with the gospel of peace derived from their Bible study and emerged from the war to spread the slogan 'No more bloodshed.' Taking up their residence at Parihaka, they gradually induced their tribes to attend monthly meetings and to subscribe to the Day of Reckoning Fund, which was to be devoted to necessary purchases on the day when all the white people should leave the country. Tohu and Te Whiti collaborated cordially in the isolation policy. On their arrest at Parihaka in 1881 they gave themselves up quietly and remained prisoners at the Governor's pleasure for two years. They were not brought to trial. When they returned Tohu's mana was increased, while Te Whiti's was impaired. Their close friendship was broken by a dispute about 1890 regarding the disposal of the Fund, and thereafter, though they often addressed meetings together, they were never on speaking terms. Rivalry arose between Tohu's followers (who were mainly Ngati-Ruanui, and were called Pore 'the unhorned') and those of Te Whiti (who were mainly Ngati-Awa). The factions vied with each other in improving their portions of the village and their houses.

While undergoing detention after Parihaka Tohu maintained a stoical indifference to all that he saw in the southern parts of New Zealand. He was a heavily built man, about 6ft 1in. in height, with aquiline features and a square firm chin, slight beard and luxuriant hair slightly grey; a countenance dogged and sensual. He died on 4 Feb 1907, and was buried at Parihaka. His only son, Kakapi, survived him. His wife, Mohia, a sister of Te Whiti's wife Hukurangi, died before him.

S. P. Smith, Wars; J. P. Ward, Wanderings with the Maori Prophets (p); Taranaki Herald, 5, 9 Feb 1907.

Reference: Volume 2, page 198

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