Matiaha Tiramorehu

Matiaha Tiramorehu (?–1881) was born at Kaiapoi pa, into the Ngai Tuahuriri hapu (sub-tribe) of Ngai Tahu. After Kaiapoi was captured by Te Rauparaha in 1831 he joined the taua (war party) led by his father Karaki. They carried out retaliatory raids, and Tiramorehu is said to have been wounded. He later settled at a southern whaling station at Moeraki. In 1843 he joined the Wesleyan faith.

In 1848 Tiramorehu was involved in the Canterbury purchase – a vast area of about 20 million acres (8 million hectares). He later took a leading role in protests over the purchase. H. T. Kemp, the government land purchase agent, had breached promises made at the time of the sale, and the reserves (later made – by Mantell) for Maori were miserly – 10 acres (4 hectares) per person.

In 1879, because of the unceasing protests of Tiramorehu and other Ngai Tahu rangatira (chiefs), the Smith–Nairn Commission was set up to investigate the grievances. Tiramorehu gave evidence to the Commission in 1879 and 1880. The government terminated the Commission before it produced a final report. Tiramorehu died at Moeraki in 1881.

See also:

• Biography of Matiaha Tiramorehu at the DNZB website
• Ngai Tahu Waitangi Tribunal claim

Matiaha Tiramōrehu

I whānau a Matiaha Tiramōrehu (?-1881) i te pā o Kaiapoi. Ko Ngāi Tūahuriri te hapū, ko Ngāi Tahu te iwi. I te whakaekenga o Kaiapoi e Te Rauparaha i te tau 1831, ka kuhu ia ki te taua o tōna matua a Karaki. Kawea ai e rātou te riri ki a Ngāti Toa; e ai ki te kōrero i taotū a Tiramōrehu. Whai muri iho ka noho ia ki tētahi teihana patu tohorā i Moeraki i te tonga. I te tau 1843 ka kuhu ia ki te Hāhi Wēteriana.

I te tau 1848 koia tērā ko Tiramōrehu i whai wāhi ki te hokonga o ngā whenua o Waitaha – e 20 miriona eka (e 8 miriona heketea) te rahi. Nō muri ka ārahina e ia ngā whakahē ki taua hokonga. Ko H.T. Kemp te āpiha hoko whenua a te kāwanatanga. Ka takahia e ia ētahi kī taurangi i puta i te wā o te hokonga, ka mutu, iti noa iho ngā pito whenua i rāhuitia (nā Mantell ēnei i whakarite i muri mai) ki te Māori – 10 eka (e 4 heketea) ki tēnā, ki tēnā tangata.

I te tau 1879, nā ngā tohetohe a Tiramōrehu me ētahi atu rangatira o Ngāi Tahu, ka whakatūria te Kōmihana a Smith rāua ko Nairn hei arotake i ngā nawe o Ngāi Tahu. Ka tuku kōrero a Tiramōrehu ki mua i te aroaro o te Kōmihana i ngā tau 1879, 1880. Heoi, ka kotia ngā mahi a te Kōmihana e te kāwanatanga i mua i te tāpaetanga o tana pūrongo. Ka mate a Tiramōrehu ki Moeraki i te tau 1881.