Tukaroto Potatau Matutaera Tawhiao (King Tawhiao)

In June 1860 Tukaroto Matutaera Potatau Te Wherowhero Tawhiao became the second Maori king when he succeeded his father, Potatau Te Wherowhero.

Tawhiao's reign was dominated by the consequences of the British invasion of the Waikato in 1863. As a result of this war Tawhiao and his people became refugees in Ngati Maniapoto country (which became known as the King Country). About 1.2 million acres (just under half a million hectares) of Waikato land was confiscated by the government in 1864. Despite these hardships Tawhiao eventually led his people back to the Waikato. In 2008 a movement that had looked dead and buried in the 1870s celebrated its 150th anniversary.

Tawhiao, of the Tainui hapu (sub-tribe) Ngati Mahuta, was born at the end of the musket wars between Tainui and Nga Puhi. It is said that he was named Tukaroto to commemorate his father's stand at the siege of Matakitaki pa in May 1822. He was later baptised Matutaera (Methuselah) by the Anglican missionary Robert Burrows. In 1864 Te Ua Haumene, the Hauhau prophet, gave him the name Tawhiao.

Tawhiao was a student of the Bible as well as being well versed in the ancient rites of the Tainui priesthood. As King he was an important spiritual as well as political leader. He was regarded as a great visionary and many of his teachings and sayings were of a prophetic nature. Tawhiao promised that those who had remained faithful to the tenets of the King movement would be redeemed and exonerated by history. Tawhiao and his followers saw their predicament as a dramatic parallel to the biblical exile of the children of Israel.

Tawhiao, like his father before him, had initially opposed the fighting that had erupted in Taranaki in 1860. He was aware that war threatened the unity of the Kingitanga and some supporters feared the consequences of a British invasion. In July 1863 British troops invaded the Waikato by crossing the Mangatawhiri stream. Tawhiao had declared this to be an aukati – a boundary not to be crossed – and that any breach would be considered an act of war.  

Kingitanga forces attempted to stall the British advance with significant battles at Meremere and Rangiriri in October-November 1863. The capture of Tawhiao's capital at Ngaruawahia in December and defeat at Orakau in April 1864 saw Kingitanga leaders withdraw from Waikato to Tokangamutu (Te Kuiti) in Ngati Maniapoto territory. Some European commentators spoke of its 'withdrawal into sullen isolation'.

The issue of land confiscation dominated dealings between the Kingitanga and the government in the post-wars period. Tawhiao was adamant that reconciliation was impossible without the return of all confiscated land. This was rejected by the government. In 1881 the King and his followers finally laid down their weapons and returned to Waikato, with Tawhiao stating that 'this is the end of warfare in this land.' But they did not give up their efforts to seek compensation for the land they had lost.

In 1884 Tawhiao led a party to England to petition Queen Victoria. He wanted a Maori parliament and an independent commission of inquiry into the land confiscations. He stressed that the Kingitanga was not separatist and did not reject the Queen's authority. He believed that it unified Maori so that they might more effectively claim the Queen's protection. In his view King and Queen could peacefully coexist. His petition was referred back to the New Zealand government, which dismissed it.

Tawhiao continued to help Maori address their concerns and petition the government. He also established the Maori parliament, Te Kauhanganui.

Tawhiao died on 26 August 1894 at Parawera. He was buried at Taupiri after a tangihanga in September which was attended by thousands. Tawhiao left a legacy of religious principles from which his people would draw a future dream for Tainui: the rebirth of a self-sufficient economic base, supported by the strength and stability of the people.

• See also: biography of King Tawhiao on the DNZB website