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Kiwi of the Week
Te Kirihaehae Te Puea Herangi (Princess Te Puea)
Te Puea Herangi (1883–1952) was a grand-daughter of Tawhiao Te Wherowhero, the second Maori King. Her uncle Mahuta, who became King after Tawhiao, singled her out in childhood as having special abilities. He spent many hours with her, passing on his knowledge. She was to become a crucial figure in reviving the Kingitanga (King Movement) among Tainui people in the twentieth century.
Te Puea emerged as a leader during World War I. She opposed the government’s policy of conscripting Maori for war service, at a time when Tainui still felt lingering bitterness about the invasion and confiscation of their lands. The government compounded Tainui feelings of injustice by responding with a general order for Maori conscription which applied only to the King Country-Maniapoto district.
After the war she helped set up a Tainui settlement at Ngaruawahia, and a new marae called Turangawaewae. For the King Movement this was a new centre and a new focus, and the settlement gradually took on the flavour of a "national marae". Te Puea hosted several European politicians and dignitaries there, helping to restore the national status of the Kingitanga.
Te Puea then focussed on improving economic conditions for Tainui. She persuaded her people to join in Apirana Ngata's ambitious Maori land development schemes. She supervised the scheme and worked hard for many years to achieve her goal of Maori economic and community revival.
In 1937 Te Puea was made a CBE (Dame Commander of the British Empire). This indicated better relations between the Kingitanga and the government. But Tainui, angry that the government did not acknowledge their King’s mana (authority), did not attend the Treaty centennial celebrations at Waitangi in 1940.
In 1926 the Sim Commission had investigated grievances over the land confiscations of the 1860s. Although its terms of reference were limited, it upheld many Maori grievances. The government made various offers, and in 1946 Te Puea played a part in Waikato accepting Prime Minister Peter Fraser's offer of a £5,000 annual payment in perpetuity, to be administered by a Trust Board. Although many Waikato Maori thought this sum was grossly inadequate, Te Puea felt it was the best that could be achieved in the circumstances.
Until her death in 1952 she remained active in the social and economic life of the Tainui people.
