The Legacy of Wiremu Taamihana - the kingmaker
Thursday 13 August 2026
Wiremu Taamihana Tarapipipi Te Waharoa was a man of peace, forced into war. Born in Tamahere in the early nineteenth century, likely around 1805, he grew up in a time of conflict. As a young man, he took part in war expeditions across Taranaki and Waikato, but his life changed in the 1830s when he came under the influence of Christian teachings. He learned to read and write in Maaori and began writing letters on behalf of his father, Te Waharoa of Ngaati Hauaa. In 1839, he was baptised in Tauranga, taking the name Wiremu Taamihana.
Taamihana’s most enduring legacy was his role in the creation of the Kiingitanga. Known as the Kingmaker, he helped unite iwi from across the motu in support of a Maaori King. The movement aimed to protect land, reduce conflict between iwi, and strengthen Maaori authority in the face of Paakehaa colonisation. With strong support from Waikato leaders, Pooteatau Te Wherowhero became the first Maaori King in 1858, while Taamihana continued to guide relationships between iwi and maintain unity during a time of growing pressure from the colonial government.
Despite his commitment to peace, Taamihana became caught in the tensions that led to the Waikato War. He worked as a mediator between Maaori and the Crown, insisting the Kiingitanga was not a rebellion but a way for Maaori to govern and protect their communities. When British troops invaded Waikato in 1863, he continued to seek peace, attempting negotiations and sending gestures of goodwill, but his efforts were largely ignored. The attack on Rangiaowhia in 1864, where many non-combatants had taken refuge, deeply affected him. It was one of the few times he took up arms, driven by grief for his people.
After the war and the confiscation of large areas of Waikato land, Taamihana remained committed to peace. In 1865, at Tamahere, he laid down his taiaha in what he called te maungaarongo, a covenant of peace. While some saw this as surrender, he regarded it as a mutual laying down of arms and a step toward reconciliation. He continued to petition the government for an inquiry into the war and the return of confiscated land, but these requests were largely ignored. Even so, he remained dedicated to his people until his death in 1866 near Peeria.
Today, Wiremu Taamihana is remembered as a leader who stood for unity, diplomacy, and Maaori self-determination
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