Te Rata
Encyclopedia
Te Rata Mahuta was born sometime between 1877 and 1880 and was the eldest son of the third Māori King, Mahuta
and Te Marae, daughter of the fighting Chief Amukete Te Kerei who was killed in battle at Rangiriri
in November 1863. He married Te Uranga (daughter of Iriwhata Wharemaki and Hira Wati) of Ngati Koroki. Te Rata was invested with the kingship on November 24, 1912, about 2 weeks after his father's death. As was the custom for a new Māori King, he assumed the title name of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, thus beginning a kingship dogged by ill health and controversy.
Te Rata Mahuta had at least three sons;
Koroki became Te Rata's successor upon his death. Of his other sons, Taipu had died in 1924, and Hori was declared illegitimate at Te Rata's cousin, Te Puea's insistence.
As a child, Te Rata had been a chronic invalid and had suffered several illnesses including rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease. The former greatly affected his ability to carry out his role as King. This was particularly apparent during an expedition to England in 1914. This expedition had been undertaken with the aim of presenting British officials with a petition concerning breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi
; namely, that Māori land had been unjustly confiscated following the New Zealand wars. However, during his voyage to England, Te Rata ended up suffering repeated attacks of rheumatics. For example, during a stop-over in Honolulu, he was unable to accept an invitation from the nations's aging Queen, Liliuokalani, the last ruler of her people prior to annexation. Furthermore, these attacks continued following his arrival in England on May 21, 1914. Indeed, Te Rata was so unwell that he ended up turning down a meeting with important British officials, although he eventually was able to meet with King George and Queen Mary.
He died at Waahi on 1 October 1933.
Mahuta Tawhiao
Mahuta Tāwhiao I, Māori King was the third Māori King, reigning from 1894 to 1912, and member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 1903 to 1910.-Early life:...
and Te Marae, daughter of the fighting Chief Amukete Te Kerei who was killed in battle at Rangiriri
Rangiriri
Rangiriri was a rural New Zealand parliamentary electorate in the Auckland Region from 1978 to 1984.-History:The electorate existed only from 1978 to 1984: it replaced the Franklin electorate in 1978, but the name was changed back to Franklin in 1984....
in November 1863. He married Te Uranga (daughter of Iriwhata Wharemaki and Hira Wati) of Ngati Koroki. Te Rata was invested with the kingship on November 24, 1912, about 2 weeks after his father's death. As was the custom for a new Māori King, he assumed the title name of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, thus beginning a kingship dogged by ill health and controversy.
Te Rata Mahuta had at least three sons;
- Koroki Te Rata Mahuta Tawhiao Potatau Te WherowheroKoroki MahutaKorokī I, Māori King was the fifth Māori King. He was born to parents Te Rata Mahuta and Te Uranga Matai and was a descendant of the first Māori King, Pōtatau Te Wherowhero. In 1954 he received Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II when Her Majesty called at his official residence during the coronation...
(with Te Uranga) and, - Taipu Mahuta (with Te Uranga), and
- Hori (George) Te Rata
Koroki became Te Rata's successor upon his death. Of his other sons, Taipu had died in 1924, and Hori was declared illegitimate at Te Rata's cousin, Te Puea's insistence.
As a child, Te Rata had been a chronic invalid and had suffered several illnesses including rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease. The former greatly affected his ability to carry out his role as King. This was particularly apparent during an expedition to England in 1914. This expedition had been undertaken with the aim of presenting British officials with a petition concerning breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
; namely, that Māori land had been unjustly confiscated following the New Zealand wars. However, during his voyage to England, Te Rata ended up suffering repeated attacks of rheumatics. For example, during a stop-over in Honolulu, he was unable to accept an invitation from the nations's aging Queen, Liliuokalani, the last ruler of her people prior to annexation. Furthermore, these attacks continued following his arrival in England on May 21, 1914. Indeed, Te Rata was so unwell that he ended up turning down a meeting with important British officials, although he eventually was able to meet with King George and Queen Mary.
He died at Waahi on 1 October 1933.