Mahuta Tāwhiao

Mahuta Tāwhiao I, Māori King (1855?–1912) was the third Māori King, reigning from 1894 to 1912, and member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 1903 to 1910.

Early life

Born around 1854/5 at Whatiwhatihoe in the Waikato, Mahuta was the second son of King Tāwhiao and his first wife Hera. During his childhood in the 1860s New Zealand was embroiled in war and in his adolescence his family took refuge in the isolated King Country, so Mahuta received very little European education, spoke little English and was very much a traditionalist.

During his twenties, Mahuta married Te Marae, with whom he had five sons: Te Rata (who succeeded him as king), Taipu, Tumate, Tonga and Te Rauangaanga.

Reign as king

When his father died in August 1894, Mahuta was made Māori King, taking the throne on 15 September of that year.

Under Mahuta's rule, the King Movement's first courts were created, with judges, clerks and registrars. However, his nation weakened greatly by the turn of the century. The Māori people had very little land, and population crises and poverty ravaged them. Through a series of deals with colonial authorities, including joining the Legislative Council, Mahuta regained a little influence for his people, though the last years of his life were fraught with personal troubles.

He died at Waahi on 9 November 1912 and was buried on Taupiri Mountain.

References

• Mahuta Tawhiao Potatau Te Wherowhero in Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
• The Encyclopedia of New Zealand