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Tītore
Nickname(s)Tītore Paki, Tītore Tākiri
Bornc. 1775
Died2 June 1837 (aged 62)
Kororāreka,Bay of Islands,United Tribes of New Zealand
Cause of deathIllness or battle wounds
Buried
Bay of Islands
Allegiance
  • Ngāpuhi
  • United Tribes of New Zealand
Years of service1790s–1837
RankRangatira
Battles/wars
Spouse(s)Matire-taku
Relations
  • Hongi Hika(brother-in-law)
  • Te Ahi and Hapai (parents)

Tītore(circa 1775–1837), sometimes known asTītore Tākiri,was arangatira(chief) of theNgāpuhiiwi(tribe). He was a war leader of the Ngāpuhi who lead the war expedition against theMāoritribes atEast Capein 1820 and 1821. He also led the war expeditions toTaurangaandMaketuin 1832 and 1833, following theGirls' Warincident atKororārekain theBay of Islands.

He was the son of Hāpai, the grandson of Toko, and the brother of Rapu. Tītore was the nephew of Tāreha, principal rangatira of the Ngāti Rēhiahapū(sub-tribe) ofKerikeri,and he was related toHōne Hekeand Hengi of Ngāti Rēhia.[1]He married a sister ofHongi Hika.[2][3]He lived near Whakataha pā in theWaimate Northarea, then atKororāreka,as the peace settlement to the Girls' War resulted in his receiving Kororāreka as reparation for the death of his relation Hengi.[2]

Tītore's and Te Wera's southern expedition 1820–21[edit]

In April 1821, Tītore and the chiefTe Werafrom Okura, near Kerikeri, returned to the Bay of Islands after 16 months of fighting against the tribes atTolaga BayandPoverty Bayon the East Coast of theNorth Island.[4]

Tītore’s war expeditions in 1832 and 1833[edit]

In the peace settlement at the end of the Girls' War, Kororāreka (today known as Russell) was ceded to Tītore byPōmare IIas compensation for Hengi's death, which was accepted by those engaged in the fighting.[5]However, the duty of seeking revenge had passed to Mango and Kakaha, the sons of Hengi; they took the view that the death of their father should be acknowledged through a muru,[6]or war expedition, against tribes to the south. It was within Māori traditions to conduct a muru against tribes who had no involvement in the events that caused the death of an important chief.[5]

Tītore did not commence the muru until January 1832.[7][8][9]The RevdHenry Williamsaccompanied the first expedition, without necessarily believing that he could end the fighting, but with the intention of continuing to persuade the combatants as to the Christian message of peace and goodwill. The journal of Henry Williams provides an extensive account of this expedition, which can be described as an incident in the so-calledMusket Wars.The Ngāpuhi warriors, who includedHōne Heke,were successful in battles on theMercury Islandsand atTauranga,with the muru continuing until late July 1832.[1][8]

In February 1833 Tītore consultedTohitapu,atohunga,to foresee the success of a second war expedition;[10]then Tītore led a party ofTe Rarawa,allies of the Ngāpuhi, back to Tauranga. Williams also accompanied the second expedition.[11][12]

Exchanging gifts with William IV[edit]

Tītore was one of 13 northern rangatira who signed a letter toKing William IVin 1831, seeking an alliance with the United Kingdom;[2]with a request to the King to become "friend and guardian of these Islands" to protect them from the "tribe of Marion", which is how the Māori of the Bay of Islands referred to the French. The Māori of the Bay of Islands were concerned about the French presence in the South Pacific as a consequence of the massacre ofMarc-Joseph Marion du Fresneand 26 crewman, who were killed and cannibalized in the Bay of Islands in 1772.[13][14]

In 1834, F.W.R. Sadler ofHMSBuffaloreceived gifts from Tītore for delivery to the King, which included twomeremade ofpounamu(which is a symbol ofchieftainship).[15]In 1835, the King sent him a suit of armour, now in theMuseum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[2][16][17]

Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand[edit]

On 28 October 1835, Tītore signed He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene (known in English as theDeclaration of the Independence of New Zealand),[2]which proclaimed thesovereign independenceof New Zealand. The Declaration arose in response to concerns over the lawlessness of British subjects in New Zealand, and in response to a fear that France would declaresovereigntyover the islands. The document also arose from movements in Māori society. From 1816 onwards, a number of Northern Māori chiefs had made visits toNew South WalesandNorfolk Island,as well as to England, leading to discussions about unifying the tribes and the formation of a Māori government. Māori had become involved in trade with New South Wales and owned trading ships. In 1834, the chiefs had selected a flag for use on ships originating from New Zealand. In the process of signing, the chiefs established themselves as representing aconfederationunder the title of the "United Tribes of New Zealand".[18][19]

War with Pōmare II[edit]

Starting in March 1837,Pōmare IIfought a three-month war with Tītore.Hōne Hekefought alongside Tītore.[20][21]

Tītore lead 800 warriors in 42 war canoes against Pōmare'spāat Otuihu in the Bay of Islands, although the pā had strong defences and the attacks in March and April were repulsed.[22]An underlying cause of the fighting was a dispute as to the boundary line of the Kororāreka block that had been surrendered as a consequence of the death of Hengi some seven years previously in the Girls’ War.[23]

The war ended in June 1837 following the death of Tītore; however, it is not clear whether he died as the results of battle wounds or following an illness.[2]Following Tītore's death,HMSRattlesnakefired a formal salute in his honour.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^abCowan, James (1922). "Volume I: 1845–1864".The New Zealand Wars: a history of the Maori campaigns and the pioneering period.Wellington: R.E. Owen. pp. 73–144.
  2. ^abcdefg"Tītore".NZHistory.New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.Retrieved30 May2024.
  3. ^Yate, W."Turbulence of the Natives in extracting satisfaction..."1814–1853 – The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] – 1829, p. 458.Retrieved13 January2018.
  4. ^Smith, S. Percy – Maori Wars of the Nineteenth Century (Christchurch 1910) page 167.onlineatNZETC
  5. ^abCarleton, Hugh (1874)."Vol. I".The Life of Henry Williams.Early New Zealand Books(ENZB), University of Auckland Library. pp. 78–87.
  6. ^He Hïnätore ki te Ao Mäori / A Glimpse into the Mäori World: Mäori Perspectives on Justice.2001. Ministry of Justice.
  7. ^Fitzgerald, Caroline (2011).Te Wiremu: Henry Williams – Early Years in the North.Huia Publishers, New Zealand. pp. 164–168.ISBN978-1-86969-439-5.
  8. ^abCarleton, Hugh (1874)."Vol. I".The Life of Henry Williams.Early New Zealand Books(ENZB), University of Auckland Library. pp. 106–126.
  9. ^Rogers, Lawrence M. (editor)(1961) –The Early Journals of Henry Williams 1826 to 1840.Christchurch: Pegasus Press.online availableatNew Zealand Electronic Text Centre(NZETC)
  10. ^Smith, S. Percy – Maori Wars of the Nineteenth Century (Christchurch 1910) page 450.onlineatNZETC
  11. ^Carleton, Hugh (1874)."Vol. I".The Life of Henry Williams.Early New Zealand Books(ENZB), University of Auckland Library. pp. 130–133.
  12. ^Rogers, Lawrence M. (1973).Te Wiremu: A Biography of Henry Williams.Pegasus Press. pp. 99–100.
  13. ^Fitzgerald, Caroline (2004).Marianne Williams: Letters from the Bay of Islands.Penguin Books, New Zealand. p. 203.ISBN0-14-301929-5.
  14. ^Fitzgerald, Caroline (2011).Te Wiremu: Henry Williams – Early Years in the North.Huia Publishers, New Zealand. pp. 153–155.ISBN978-1-86969-439-5.
  15. ^Parkinson, Philip G. (2012)."Tuku: gifts for a king and the panoplies of Titore and Patuone".Tuhinga: Records of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.23:53–68.
  16. ^Hannan, Hayley (2013)."A chief in shining armour".New Zealand Geographic, Issue 121.Retrieved13 January2018.
  17. ^Hamilton, A (1909)."Art. VII—On some Armour presented to Titore, a Nga Puhi Chief, by H.M. William IV in 1835".Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 6 October 1909.Retrieved13 January2018.
  18. ^Caroline Fitzgerald (2011).Te Wiremu – Henry Williams: Early Years in the North.Huia Press.ISBN978-1-86969-439-5.261
  19. ^"The Declaration of Independence".Translation from Archives New Zealand, New Zealand History online.Retrieved18 August2010.
  20. ^Ballara, Angela (30 October 2012)."Pomare II".Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.Retrieved15 January2018.
  21. ^Rankin, Freda (1 September 2010)."Heke Pokai, Hone Wiremu".Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.Retrieved15 January2018.
  22. ^Fitzgerald, Caroline (2004).Marianne Williams: Letters from the Bay of Islands.Penguin Books, New Zealand. p. 235.ISBN0-14-301929-5.
  23. ^Carleton, Hugh (1874)."Vol. I".The Life of Henry Williams.Early New Zealand Books(ENZB), University of Auckland Library. pp. 201–206.

Literature and sources[edit]

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