Ropata Wahawaha
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Major Ropata Wahawaha NZC |
|
|---|---|
Major Ropata Wahawaha, N.Z.C.,
as pictured in The Story of a Maori Chief |
|
| Birth name | Rāpata Wahawaha (childhood) |
| Born |
c. 1820 Te Puia Springs or Akuaku, Waiapu, New Zealand |
| Died |
1 July 1897 Gisborne, New Zealand |
| Buried | Rock fortress of Pupaka in the Waiomatatini Valley |
| Allegiance | Ngāti Porou, Kūpapa (British Empire) |
| Years of service | 1865–71 |
| Rank | Major |
| Awards |
|
| Relations | Sir Āpirana Ngata (great-nephew) |
| Other work | Rangatira, politician, chairman of Waiomatatini School Committee |
Ropata Wahawaha (c. 1820 – 1 July 1897) was a Ngāti Porou war chief who rose to prominence during New Zealand's East Cape War and to senior command during Te Kooti's War.
Rapata Wahawaha was born about 1820 into the Te Aowera sub-tribe of the Ngati Porou, one of the major Maori tribes in the eastern regions of the North Island of New Zealand. While still a child he was captured and became the slave of Rapata Whakapuhia whose name he perforce adopted.
However, in later years when he rose to prominence he worked closely with Donald McLean who, having a broad Scottish accent, habitually pronounced his name as "Ropata" and it became the name by which he is generally known.
By 1839 he was back with his own people. In 1849 he married Harata Te Ihi. Harata's nephew Paratene Ngata was raised in their household.
During the Invasion of the Waikato a large party of Ngati Porou tried to join the King Movement but were prevented by Te Arawa in the Battle of the Lake. It is not clear where Ropata's sympathies lay at that time.
However, when in 1865 the Pai Mārire or Hauhau Movement came to the East Cape, Ropata was firmly on the Government's side. One influence in his decision might have been his Christianity; he was a leading member of the Anglican diocese of Waiapu. When the Hauhau tried to take over the Waiapu Valley, Ropata led a war party against them. Shortly afterwards the war chief of the Te Aowera was killed in battle and Ropata succeeded him as the War leader of his hapū.
This was the beginning of the Ngati Porou civil war. The Hauhau had all the advantages; numbers, arms and ammunition. The loyal Ngati Porou appealed to the government for support. Donald McLean, the superintendent for Hawkes Bay sent up the need supplies along with one hundred militia. Ropata played a leading role in the fighting that followed establishing himself as a leading warrior and a dangerous enemy. At one point he found eleven men from his own hapu, Te Aowera, among a group of Hauhau prisoners and he personally shot each one.
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Wikipedia