Political prisoners - war in Wellington

Te Rauparaha

Te Rauparaha became perhaps New Zealand’s first political detainee when he was seized during the fighting in the Hutt Valley in 1846. A number of other Maori leaders faced similar treatment during the 19th century wars, including Te Kooti, Te Whiti and Tohu Kakahi.

Another detainee was Hohepa Te Umuroa (Ngati Hau of Te Ati Haunui-a-Paparangi). In 1846 Te Umuroa and a number of Wanganui Maori joined Te Rangihaeata’s armed resistance to the European settlement of the Hutt Valley. He took part in Te Mamaku's attack on Boulcott’s Farm in May. On 14 August 1846, Te Umuroa and six other Wanganui Maori - Te Waretiti, Matiu Tikiaki, Te Kumete, Topi, Matai-umu and Te Rahui - were captured by a party of Te Ati Awa at Paripari in the Pauatahanui hills near Porirua. The Te Ati Awa party was helping the government pursue supporters of Te Rangihaeata during their retreat from Battle Hill.

Governor Grey had declared martial law and used this to charge the seven Wanganui men with rebellion against the Queen. None of the accused spoke sufficient English to adequately defend themselves. They had no legal representation and had only an interpreter to plead their case. They pleaded guilty. On 12 October 1846 they were sentenced to be 'transported as Felons for the Term of their Natural lives.'

Matiu Tikiaki and Topi were kept in Auckland as possible witnesses in the trial of Te Rauparaha (which never eventuated). The other five were sent to a penal colony in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). They arrived in Hobart aboard the Castor on 16 November 1846 and were sent to Darlington probation station, on Maria Island. They were given separate huts from the main dormitory, which housed 400 convicts.

In April 1847 Te Umuroa became sick with tuberculosis; he died on 19 July. He was buried in the small public cemetery on the island. The prison foreman, J.J. Imrie, read the funeral service in Maori at the graveside. An anonymous benefactor later erected a headstone over the grave.

In the wake of Te Umuroa’s death the acting Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land, C. J. La Trobe, and the Colonial Office questioned the legality of Grey’s original court martial. The transportation of the Maori captives had been questioned by the Hobart press when the prisoners first arrived, and opposition to the punishment increased with Te Umuroa’s death. The four remaining prisoners were released and returned to Auckland in March 1848. Te Umuroa had a longer wait for his return. Six elders from his iwi accompanied his remains home from Tasmania in 1988. He was reburied on 8 August that year at Roma cemetery in Jerusalem, on the Whanganui River.