Maniapoto

The ancestor Maniapoto
"Maniapoto lived in the 17th century, and established numerous powerful tribes. To understand how he came to be the leader of his people involves returning to the time of his father Rereahu’s impending death.

([Image] Swain, 2011).

It was the custom for chiefs to select the person who would take on their chiefly mana. Rereahu’s eldest son by his first marriage was Te Ihingaarangi. This son naturally expected that his father’s mana would pass to him. However Rereahu preferred Maniapoto, the eldest son by his marriage to Hineaupounamu. While Te Ihingaarangi was away, Rereahu summoned Maniapoto before him.

The dying chief instructed Maniapoto to bite the crown of his head, which he had anointed with red ochre. This act signified the passing of Rereahu’s chiefly mana to Maniapoto. By the time Te Ihingaarangi had returned, Rereahu was dead. Te Ihingaarangi observed the red stains on Maniapoto’s lips and realised that he himself had been denied the mana of his father.

After attempting to promote himself over his younger brother, Te Ihingaarangi went with his children to settle in the Maungatautari district. Te Ihingaarangi’s people there came to be known as Ngāti Korokī, Ngāti Hape and Ngāti Haua. However, after his death, many of his followers returned to the Ōtorohanga area. They can still be found there today as Ngāti Te Ihingaarangi." (Adams, 2017).

([Image] Pollock, 2015).
"This is the Tuitahi pā site, near Ōtorohanga, seen from the air. The Ngāti Maniapoto ancestor Maniapoto lived at this pā. According to F. L. Phillips, author of The landmarks of Tainui / Nga tohu a Tainui, it is the only pā of Maniapoto not to have been destroyed by land development." (Pollock, 2015).

Sources

Adams, T. T., & Meredith, P. (2017, Mar 22). Ngāti Maniapoto - The ancestor Maniapoto. Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/ngati-maniapoto/page-2

Hippolite, J. (1997). Ngati Rangatahi. A report commissioned for the Wellington Tenth's hearing by the Waitangi Tribunal. Wai 366. New Zealand Ministry of Justice.
https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_94626178/W...
Wai 145, H004

Jones, R. R. (1998). Whakapapa of Michael Rotohiko and Pei Te Hurinui Jones. Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2859/whakapapa-of-michael-rotoh...

Kelly, L. G. (1949). Tainui : the story of Hoturoa and his descendants. Polynesian Society.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/books/ALMA1949-9917503433502836-T...

Pollock, K. (2015, March 1). Story: King Country region: Tuitahi pā site. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/34840/tuitahi-pa-site

Ruapuha Uekaha Hapū Trust. (n.d.). Whakapapa o Ngāti Uekaha [Table].
https://ruht.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Whakapapa-of-Ngati-Ue...

Swain, D. (2011, May 5). Genealogy and family history - Maniapoto's whakapapa in graphic form (2nd of 2) [Image]. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/whakapapa/27059/maniapotos-whakapapa-in-gr...

Waitangi Tribunal. (2015). He whiritaunoka: the Whanganui land report. Legislation Direct, Government of New Zealand.
https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_97551683/H...

Waitangi Tribunal. (2020). Te Mana Whatu Ahuru: Report on Te Rohe Pōtae Claims, Part VI, Take a Takiwā. Legislation Direct, Government of New Zealand.
https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_167351825/...