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King Country

Coordinates:38°40′0″S175°10′0″E/ 38.66667°S 175.16667°E/-38.66667; 175.16667
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
King Country
Unofficial region of New Zealand
The King Country within New Zealand [1]
The King Country within New Zealand[1]
CountryNew Zealand
IslandNorth Island
Population
• Region50,000 to 70,000 depending on definition of area

TheKing Country(Māori:Te Rohe PōtaeorRohe Pōtae o Maniapoto) is a region of the westernNorth IslandofNew Zealand.It extends approximately fromKawhia Harbourand the town ofŌtorohangain the north to the upper reaches of theWhanganui Riverin the south, and from theHauhungaroaandRangitotoRanges in the east to near theTasman Seain the west. It comprises hill country, large parts of which are forested.

The region, albeit loosely defined, is very significant in New Zealand's history. The term "King Country" dates from theNew Zealand Warsof the 1860s, when colonial forcesinvaded the Waikatoand forces of theMāori King Movementwithdrew south of what was called theaukati,or boundary, a line ofpāalongside thePuniu RivernearKihikihi.[2]Land behind theaukatiremained native territory, with Europeans warned they crossed it under threat of death.[3][4]

Known for its rugged, rural roads and diverse landscape, the King Country has a warm climate, considered subtropical.

Government

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The King Country is not an entity in local government. It forms part of two local government regions,WaikatoandManawatū-Whanganui,and all or part of four districts:Ōtorohanga,Ruapehu,TaupōandWaitomo.

Taranaki-King Countryis a parliamentary electorate for central government. The member represents an area which stretches from the outskirts ofNew Plymouth Cityto the outskirts ofHamilton Cityand including the King Country towns ofTe Awamutu,ŌtorohangaandTe Kūiti.

Geography

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The King Country (a.k.a. Western Uplands[5]) is largely made up of rolling hill country, including theRangitotoandHauhungaroaRanges. It includes extensivekarstregions, producing such features as theWaitomo Caves.

The area is largely rural and sparsely settled, with no cities or large towns. The most significant townships are the rural service centres ofTe KūitiandŌtorohanga(in the north) andTaumarunui(in the south).

History

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Prior to European settlement, the area was occupied by various Māoriiwi,especiallyNgāti Maniapoto,Ngāti Tama,andNgāti Tūwharetoa.

In July 1863, GovernorSir George Greyordered aninvasion of the Waikatowith colonial forces supplemented by small numbers of British-allied Maori.[6]The invasion was aimed at suppressing Kingite power, which was seen by thecolonial governmentas a threat toCrown authorityin New Zealand; it was also aimed to driveWaikatoMaori from the region in readiness for occupation and settlement byPakeha settlers.[7][8]

Heavily outnumbered and disadvantaged by superior firepower, the Kingite forces retreated southwards from the Waikato after the battle atŌrākauin April 1864, eventually being forced to flee to Maniapoto land, later called the King Country.

At this time, the region received a Māori name,Rohe pōtae.This name translates as "Area of the Hat", and is said to have originated when the second Māori KingTāwhiaoput his white top hat on a large map of the North Island and declared that all land covered by the hat would be under hismana(or authority).[9]

Heavy casualties at theBattle of Gate PaatTaurangain April 1864 prompted GeneralDuncan Cameronto abandon plans for further military campaigns in the Waikato area, and Grey and the colonial government were forced to accept this decision.[2][10]The King Country, mountainous, poor and isolated, was not an attractive conquest. King Tāwhiao and his followers were able to maintain a rebel Māori monarchy in exile and a refuge for rebel Māori opposed to the government for more than a decade although living conditions were very poor. This may be partly due to the large influx of about 3,500 Waikato people who swamped the resources of the approximately 800 Maniapoto living in the rohe.

On 15 May 1872Te Kooti,on the run from government forces, crossed the Waikato River and entered the territory as supplicant and was granted asylum. In 1880, William Moffat, apparently a land agent or buyer, was shot and killed.[11]

In 1881, as a result of ongoing friction with his hosts over the question of land sales, and a general amnesty being granted to the rebels, Tāwhiao emerged and laid down the King Movement's arms. After successful negotiations between the government,Wahanui,RewiandTaonui,including a pardon for Te Kooti[12]by 1883 the King Country was made accessible to Europeans. It was opened to road surveying, and the start of theMain Trunk Line[13]- but with a prohibition on the sale of alcohol throughout the district.[14]At a March 1883 meeting,John Brycegot a compact that allowed the surveying of the rail route.[15]At a February 1885 meeting at Kihikihi withJohn Ballanceconstruction of the line was approved. Ballance was criticised for not requiring cession of land alongside the route (which would rise in value because of the line), but he knew that would not be acceptable to Māori.[16]

Construction of the railway began in 1885, and finished in 1908, with the completion greatly improving transport and communications in the King Country, promoting settlement and farming in the area - as well as assisting in the growth of rural service towns such asTaumarunuiwhich was an important railway depot until the 1950s.

The alcohol ban continued as section 272 of the Licensing Act 1908—see the map of the "Boundaries of the King Country Licensing Area" in Jonathan Sarich's 2011 report.[17]As a young man,John A. Leewas jailed for smuggling alcohol into the area around 1910. In 1923 and again in 1926, in response to a pro-alcohol petition sent around for signatures, another deputation of leaders of the King Country --Te Rata Mahuta Tawhiao Potarau(fourth Māori King), Tuwhakaririka Patana, Hotu Tana Pakukohatu, and Thirty Leading Chiefs of the King Country—came before the Prime Minister to petition that the prohibition against alcohol in their area be protected.[18]In March 1949Korokī Mahuta,the fifth Māori King (1933-1966), andPrincess Te Kirihaehae Te Puea Herangi(1883-1952) led a 400-strong delegation to Parliament, representing the people of theWaikato,Ngāti Maniapoto,Taranaki,Ngāti TūwharetoaandTe Wainui a Rua,concerning the "King Country Pact" to protect the prohibition line. However, their plea was ignored, and in 1951 1000 Māori rallied at Tauranganui Pa, Tuakau to protest the laxity in allowing alcohol in their area.[19]In 1951 the National Party was re-elected, and one of its campaign promises was for a single referendum on no-license in the King Country. In 1953 a Bill was introduced for a joint poll requiring a 60% majority in November 1954, and the result was predictable given the demographics of the population then living in the area: licensing was carried by a large majority: 80% for European and 25% of Maori in favour of a license.[20]

Economy

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The greater part of the region's economy is involved in farming (especially pastoral farming) and forestry, with some supporting services. There are some areas of tourist significance, such asWaitomo Caves.The King Country also contains areas of conservation estate, especiallyPureora Forest Park.

From 1966 to 31 March 2010,King Country Radio(with the call sign 1ZU) operated fromTaumarunui.

Sport

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TheKing Country Rugby Football Unionhas produced severalrugby unionplayers who becameAll Blacks:Kevin Boroevich,Ronald Bryers,Colin Meads,Stan Meads,Jack McLean,Bill Phillips,Joe RatimaandGraham Whiting.

The North King Countrysoccerteam plays in a yellow and blue strip. It is based in Ōtorohanga.

References

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  1. ^Pollock, Kerryn (March 1, 2015)."King Country region map".Te Ara.RetrievedAugust 25,2024.
  2. ^abBelgrave, Michael (2005).Historical Frictions.Auckland: Auckland University Press. pp. 250–251.ISBN1-86940-320-7.
  3. ^Dalton, B.J. (1967).War and Politics in New Zealand 1855-1870.Sydney: Sydney University Press. p. 260.
  4. ^Belich, James(1986).The New Zealand Wars.Auckland: Penguin. p. 175.ISBN0-14-027504-5.
  5. ^"Western Uplands – 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand – Te Ara".
  6. ^King, Michael(2003).The Penguin History of New Zealand.Penguin Books. p. 214.ISBN0-14-301867-1.
  7. ^Dalton, B.J. (1967).War and Politics in New Zealand 1855-1870.Sydney: Sydney University Press. pp. 178–179.
  8. ^King, Michael(1977).Te Puea: A Biography.Auckland: Hodder and Stoughton. p. 26.ISBN0-340-22482-7.
  9. ^"Te Rohe Pōtae",Te Ara
  10. ^Belich, James(1986).The New Zealand Wars.Auckland: Penguin. p. 199.ISBN0-14-027504-5.
  11. ^"The death of William Moffat".NZETC. 1 September 1928.
  12. ^"How Te Kooti Gained a Pardon",Historic Poverty Bay and the East Coast, Joseph Angus Mackay
  13. ^"The Main Trunk Railway",The New Zealand Railways Magazine
  14. ^The Māori King movement.Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.4 March 2009.
  15. ^Belgrave 2017,pp. 262–264.
  16. ^Belgrave 2017,pp. 360, 361.
  17. ^Jonathan Sarich (March 2011).An Overview of Political Engagement between Hapu and Iwi of the Te Rohe Potae inquiry district and the Crown, 1914-c.1939, Wai 898, #A29(PDF)(Report). Waitangi Tribunal for the Te Rohe Potae district inqiry (Wai 898). p. 127.Retrieved14 November2021.
  18. ^"Liquor in the King Country".White Ribbon [NZ].32(374): 5. 18 August 1926.Retrieved15 November2021.
  19. ^"The King Country 'Pact'".White Ribbon [NZ].23(8): 2. 1 November 1951.Retrieved15 November2021.
  20. ^Hutt, Marten (1999).Māori & Alcohol: A History(PDF).Wellington, NZ: Health Services Research Centre for Kaunihera Whakatupato Waipiro o Aotearoa/Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC). p. 107.Retrieved15 November2021.

Further reading

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  • Belgrave, Michael (2017).Dancing with the King: The Rise and Fall of the King Country 1864-1885.Auckland: Auckland University Press.ISBN978-186940-869-5.
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38°40′0″S175°10′0″E/ 38.66667°S 175.16667°E/-38.66667; 175.16667

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