Te Whiti O Rongomai

Te Whiti -O- Rongomai or Erueti Te Whiti

Te Whiti - O - Rongomai was born in the year of 1830 during the Musket Wars. Te Whiti was the son of Hone Kakahi, a minor chief for a tribe called Te Ati Awa. Te Whiti attended a Mission School and showed remarkable skills in bible studies. In later life, he became a spiritual teacher and a leader of a village called Parihaka in Ngamotu, Taranaki.  Tohu’s wife was called Rangiawau and was the daughter of Te Whetu.

Parihaka started to grow and eventually became the biggest village in the country by 1874. Unfortunately, on November 5 1881, the Europeans invaded and took over the land of Parihaka and imprisoned Tohu and Te Whiti. While Te Whiti was imprisoned, he learnt some of the European ways.
It was  thought the was first person to talk on a telephone and while he was in jail he also learnt to cut a steel plate with a saw. Back in Parihaka, the Europeans went on a rage and wrecked everything that the Maoris owned such as their crops, which took a whole 2 months to destroy,  also the land and houses only in just 2 weeks.

Just as Te Whiti was released, he reformed the peaceful Maori protest and was imprisoned again for another 6 months in 1886.

Unfortueately, on the 18th of November 1907 Te Whiti died and not long after that Tohu also passed away. Their history will still live on forever even though they are dead.

I believe Te Whiti was a very inspirational person because he believed in non violence and never fought back even if the worst came to the worst, that is why I think Te Whiti is so amazing.

By Olivia.