Te Rata
Te Rata Mahuta (1877–1880? – 1 October 1933) was the fourth Māori King, reigning from 1912 to 1933.
Biography
He was the eldest son of the third king, Mahuta, and Te Marae, daughter of the fighting chief Amukete Te Kerei who was killed in battle at Rangiriri in November 1863. Te Rata was born sometime between 1877 and 1880.[1] He had four younger brothers: Taipu (who died in March 1926),[2] Tumate, Tonga and Te Rauangaanga. He married Te Uranga, daughter of Iriwhata Wharemaki and Hira Wati of Ngāti Korokī.[1]
Te Rata was invested with the kingship on 24 November 1912, about two weeks after his father's death. As was the custom for a new Māori King, he assumed the title name of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, beginning a kingship dogged by ill health and controversy.[1]
Te Rata Mahuta had at least three sons;
- Korokī Te Rata Mahuta Tāwhiao Potatau Te Wherowhero (with Te Uranga) and,
- Taipu Mahuta (with Te Uranga), and
- Hori (George) Te Rata
Korokī became Te Rata's successor upon his death. Of his other sons, Taipu had died in 1924, and Hori was declared illegitimate at the insistence of Te Puea Herangi, Te Rata's cousin.
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 nation's aging Queen Liliʻuokalani, 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.[1] The Labour leader Harry Holland died unexpectedly of a heart attack at his funeral.
References
- 1 2 3 4 Ballara, Angela (1 September 2010). "Te Rata Mahuta Potatau Te Wherowhero". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- ↑ Soszynski, Henry. "Maori kingitanga". World of royalty. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
- McLintock, A. H. (editor). "An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, (1966)". Retrieved 2006-08-15.
External links
| Māori royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mahuta Tāwhiao |
Māori King 1912–1933 |
Succeeded by Korokī Mahuta |
 | ||