Who is hongi hika

Henry Williams and some other of the Missionaries, peace being made on the 24th March, Thus died Hongi Hika , the great enemy of Ngati-Whatua of Kaipara in particular, and the scourge of many of the Southern tribes, who frequently felt his heavy hand, from to the time of his death.

He was no doubt a great leader in Maori warfare, but treacherous withal. It was greatly due to his early possession of fire-arms that he spread such terror wherever he went; but beyond that we must give him credit for being a great general. His cruelty and treachery were not perhaps more marked than in other leaders of his time.

It is said that his blind wife, Turi-ka-tuki, accompanied him in all his wars, and that she was his most trusted adviser. It was widely believed at the Bay of Islands that the death of both Hongi-Hika and Te Whareumu were brought about through witchcraft by Pango or Nga-iwi , of the Ngati-Whakaue tribe of Rotorua, who was then on a friendly visit to the Bay.

He was consequently in danger of his life, but was taken back to his people by Rev. Henry Williams , in April, The following is a song composed by Tamarehe, of Ngati-Whatua, on the death of Hongi Hika , in which he expresses his vexation and anger against Hongi-Hika on account of his manslaying proclivities; and failing to obtain revenge against him by force of arms, he relieved his feelings in song:—. Kowai au, E Hongi, e i? By whom, O Hongi, was the deed performed, That sent me here, an exile?

None have seen it. Such is the white man, according to the ideas of the Maoris in his ignorance. He had a visit from Hongi-Hika on the 13th, who was suffering from his wound. Hongi Hika returned to the Bay of Islands in July , after days away, via Sydney Australia where he picked up an estimated muskets that were waiting for him. De Theirry traded the muskets for land in the Hokianga , [7] although De Theirry's claim to the land was later disputed.

Hongi was able to uplift the guns without them being paid for. He also had a large quantity of gunpowder, ball ammunition, swords and daggers. Deaths in this one action during the inter tribal Musket Wars outnumber all deaths in 25 years of the sporadic New Zealand Wars.

In early he led his force up the Waikato River where, after initial success, he was defeated by Te Wherowhero , before gaining another victory at Orongokoekoea. In he made peace with the Waikato iwi and invaded Te Arawa territory in Rotorua. Fifteen years later when Lt. In Hongi Hika moved from Waimate to conquer Whangaroa and found a new settlement.

However this shift soon split his followers into two factions, those who stayed in Waimate quarrelling with the colonists at Whangaroa and those that returned to the Bay of Islands. In January , Hongi Hika was shot in the chest by Maratea during a minor engagement in the Hokianga. Hongi Hika lingered for 14 months before dying of infection from this wound on 6 March at Whangaroa. In contrast to the traditional conduct that followed the death of an important rangatira chief , no attack was made by neighbouring tribes by way of muru attack made in respect of the death [9] of Hongi Hika.

The extent of Hongi Hika's plans and ambitions are unknown. Although he said during his visit to England, "There is only one king in England, there shall be only one king in New Zealand", [13] this is likely bravado. Hongi Hika never attempted to establish any form of long term government over iwi he conquered and most often did not attempt to permanently occupy territory. Hongi Hika is mostly remembered as a warrior and leader during the Musket Wars.

Its accuracy is questioned on the basis that it was written with an aim to entertain, rather than with an eye to historical accuracy. After I am gone be kind to the missionaries, be kind also to the other Europeans; welcome them to the shore, trade with them, protect them, and live with them as one people; but if there should land on this shore a people who wear red garments, who do no work, who neither buy or sell, and who always have arms in their hands, then be aware that these are people called soldiers, a dangerous people, whose only occupation is war.

When you see them make war against them. Then O my children, be brave! Then, O my friends be strong! Be brave that you may not be enslaved, and that your country may not become the possession of strangers. Military Wiki Explore. Popular pages. Project maintenance. Register Don't have an account? Hongi Hika. Edit source History Talk 0.