Community Contributed
Ihakara Tukumaru
Kete Horowhenua2020-03-23T17:03:06+00:00| Date of birth | 1813 |
| Date of death | 18/01/1881 |
Ihakara Tukumaru was born about the year 1813 in the Waikato district, probably in the vicinity of Wharepuhunga, to the south of Maungatautari. He belonged to the principal family of Ngati Ngarongo, one of the many hapu (sub-tribes) of the powerful Ngati Raukawa tribe, who trace their descent from the migrants of the “Tainui” canoe. The particular branch of Ngati Ngarongo to which he belonged was known as Patukohuru.
During the late 1820s Ihakara accompanied his people to Te Rotoatara in the Hawke’s Bay district (near the site of Te Aute College) where they resided for several years. However, their presence was much resented by Ngati Kahungunu of Hawke’s Bay and after a number of violent clashes the Waikato people were obliged to withdraw. Following a battle in which the famous chief Te Momo met his death, Ihakara moved south to Otaki where he joined the main body of Ngati Raukawa who had migrated from Waikato by way of Taupo and the west coast.
The Patukohuru people appear to have lived mainly in the Otaki district until about 1835, when they moved to the banks of the Manawatu River, settling mainly at Te Maire (west of the present town of Shannon) and at Te Awahou (Foxton).
In 1840 Ihakara came under the influence of the Rev. Octavius Hadfield, the first Christian missionary (Church of England) to visit Manawatu, but after the arrival of the Rev. James Duncan the Patukohuru people placed themselves under the care of the Presbyterian missionary, an action which earned them severe criticism from Mr. Hadfield. The resulting tension was not eased until after 1857, when Mr. Duncan withdrew from Maori mission work and Ihakara and his people were free to renew their association with the Church of England.
Ihakara is credited with organising the erection of two houses of Christian worship in the Foxton district, the first being at Te Awahou in 1850-51 and the second at Matakarapa (opposite Foxton) in 1880. The church at Te Awahou is believed to have stood in close proximity to the cemetery now known as Ihakara Gardens (possibly on the site of the present was Memorial) and was in use until about 1858-59 when it may have been blown down in a storm. The church at Matakarapa was named “Te Upiri” (The Jubilee) to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in Manawatu, and was in use until the 1940s when the people of Matakarapa moved across the river to live in Foxton. The church then fell into disrepair and finally collapsed about 1964.
From 1852 until his death, Ihakara held the office of Native Assessor, a Government appointment which carried a salary of £50 per annum. This position involved assisting a Resident Magistrate to dispense justice among the Maori people and court sittings were held at Te Awahou to settle disputes concerning such matters as debts, thefts and assaults. In 1862 the Maori people erected a courthouse in the village and the site of this building (on the corner of Main Street and Avenue Road) was later sold by Ihakara to the Government, which continued to use the land for court purposes until recently.
Another of Ihakara’s contributions to the development of Foxton was his sale of the site of Foxton Primary School. This 4 acre site was sold for the sum of £5 in 1857 to Mr. T.U. Cook, representing the local Pakeha settlers, and a school was subsequently erected by public subscription. The school became a public institution in 1867, when control was transferred from the local settlers to the Wellington Provincial Government.
Today, Ihakara is remembered chiefly for his role as a seller of land to the Government, particularly with regard to the Awahou Block of 37,000 acres (1858-59) and the Rangitikei-Manawatu Block of 240,000 acres (1866). Often overlooked, however, is his role as a peacemaker during the 1860s and 1870s. During this period there was violent conflict between Maori and Pakeha in many parts of the North Island and the influence of Christian chiefs such as Ihakara was a major factor in preventing the spread of such conflict to Manawatu. Likewise, when disputes arose between Ngati Raukawa and other tribes concerning the ownership of land in Manawatu and Horowhenua, Ihakara was among those chiefs who advocated a peaceful settlement by means of negotiation and referral to courts of law. During these disputes the integrity, honesty and compassion of Ihakara and other Christian leaders of Ngati Raukawa was acknowledged in the following words, said to have been uttered by Hoani Meihana Te Rangiotu, a leader of the Rangitane people of inland Manawatu: “Ko manawaroatanga o Ngati Raukawa, Ki te pupiri i te rangimarie, ara i te whakapono”. (“The stoutheartedness of Ngati Raukawa, to hold fast to the peace of God by means of the Gospel”).
Ihakara died at Matakarapa on 18th January 1881 and was buried in the old Te Awahou cemetery six days later. Hundreds of mourners, both Maori and Pakeha, followed his body to its final resting place and all the shops were closed, with blinds drawn, as the funeral procession passed along Main Street.
Referencing:
When referencing this article please use the following:
Pioneers of Foxton : Book One. p1-2. [Foxton, N.Z.] : Foxton Historical Society, 1988.