In the 1980s James Belich argued that Tītokowaru’s war had become a ‘dark secret’ of New Zealand history, ‘forgotten by the Pākehā as a child forgets a nightmare’. For Belich, Tītokowaru was ‘arguably the best general New Zealand has ever produced’.
The prophet Tohu Kakahi of Te Ati Awa, along with Te Whiti o Rongomai, led the peaceful resistance movement at Parihaka. Both men were arrested after the invasion of Pariahaka in 1881 by the Armed Constabulary and were held without trial until 1883.
Ngā Ruahine prophet, military leader, master tactician, peacemaker and Parihaka supporter, Tītokowaru was one of New Zealand's most important nineteenth-century figures.
Te Whiti was a Taranaki leader and prophet. A resistance movement based at Parihaka was led by him and Tohu Kakahi. Te Whiti was arrested following the infamous raid on Parihaka by Armed Constabulary in 1881.
Parihaka had come to symbolise protest gainst the confiscation of Māori land. Its leaders, Te Whiti and Tohu Kakahi, were arrested and exiled until March 1883.
Under the leadership of Te Whiti and Tohu Kākahi, Parihaka Māori began a ploughing campaign to protest against European settlement on land confiscated from Māori.
Parihaka had become the symbol of opposition to the government policy of land confiscation in the aftermath of the New Zealand Wars. Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi were imprisoned without trial after the military occupation of the south Taranaki community in November 1881.
