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| '''Waata Pihikete Kukutai''' (–8 January 1867) was a New Zealand tribal leader, farmer and assessor. Of ] descent, he identified with the ] and ] ]. He was born in ]. Waata Kukutai's parents were Kukutai I and Oiroa Muriwhenua, of Ngati Hourua.<ref name="DNZB Kukutai">{{DNZB|title=Waata Pihikete Kukutai|first= Gary|last= Scott|id=1k17|accessdate=December 2011}}</ref> He was regarded by the government as an intelligent chief. He was interviewed by government officials in 1857 while the government was considering what action to take over a rising demand by Waikato Maori for some form of law and order in the Waikato to replace ancient tikanga which had fallen into disuse. At the meeting |
'''Waata Pihikete Kukutai''' (–8 January 1867) was a New Zealand tribal leader, farmer and assessor. Of ] descent, he identified with the ] and ] ]. He was born in ]. Waata Kukutai's parents were Kukutai I and Oiroa Muriwhenua, of Ngati Hourua.<ref name="DNZB Kukutai">{{DNZB|title=Waata Pihikete Kukutai|first= Gary|last= Scott|id=1k17|accessdate=December 2011}}</ref> He was regarded by the government as an intelligent chief. He was interviewed by government officials in 1857 while the government was considering what action to take over a rising demand by Waikato Maori for some form of law and order in the Waikato to replace ancient tikanga which had fallen into disuse. At the Paetai meeting Kukutai paraded under the British flag. At the same meeting , Te Wherowhero asked for magistrates, laws and a form of Runanga or council. The governor agreed to meet these demands.<ref> Report of the Waikato Committee. Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives 1860.Session 1.</ref> Gradually the government introduced written laws , magistrates and courts. They built a printing press to explain in Maori the Government's position. They helped establish a trade school in the Te Awamutu area where christianity was popular among Maori. They backed the construction of flour mills. The government helped establish runangas (governing committees) seeing these as a useful. Runangas were a mechanism traditionally used for pan hapu resolutions on a wide range of matters but the government intended to make them a standing political structure. Kukutai was appointed a head Maori magistrate by Grey in 1861 and government adviser. He had a government salary of 50 pounds per year. | ||
| Kukutai fought with the Kingitanga forces at Rangiriri in 1863. He was wounded and taken prisoner on a prison ship in Auckland harbour. Governor Grey tried to have him released as he had been very friendly to settlers in the prewar period and had even given a specific written warning to local Europeans that Ngati Maniapoto were on the war path,thereby saving lives. In addition Kukutai had been wounded trying to save the life of Captain Mercer at Rangiriri. This brave act caused him to be shot twice in the legs. Kukutai was a prisoner of the government so Grey was at first unable to get him released. About 7 months later with a change of government and policy on dealing with surrendered Maori rebel Kukutai was released in Auckland and then allowed to return to his rohe. He was made a major in the NZ Militia and paid an additional 150 pounds per year. Magistrate Gorst in Te Awamutu considered him a spend thrift. | |||
| In 1865 Kukutai's hapu was returned 10 or 11 areas of previously confiscated land,mostly in his traditional rohe near modern Lake Karapiro. This was part of the 313,000 acres of land returned to Maori involved in the 1863-64 insurrection, who had surrendered and taken the oath of allegiance to the crown. | |||
| In 1867 after the death of his wife Kukutai poisoned himself and later died aged 45.<ref> Te Ara. The Encyclopedia of NZ. Kukutai.Biography.</ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 00:10, 13 August 2014
Waata Pihikete Kukutai (–8 January 1867) was a New Zealand tribal leader, farmer and assessor. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngati Tipa and Waikato iwi. He was born in New Zealand. Waata Kukutai's parents were Kukutai I and Oiroa Muriwhenua, of Ngati Hourua. He was regarded by the government as an intelligent chief. He was interviewed by government officials in 1857 while the government was considering what action to take over a rising demand by Waikato Maori for some form of law and order in the Waikato to replace ancient tikanga which had fallen into disuse. At the Paetai meeting Kukutai paraded under the British flag. At the same meeting , Te Wherowhero asked for magistrates, laws and a form of Runanga or council. The governor agreed to meet these demands. Gradually the government introduced written laws , magistrates and courts. They built a printing press to explain in Maori the Government's position. They helped establish a trade school in the Te Awamutu area where christianity was popular among Maori. They backed the construction of flour mills. The government helped establish runangas (governing committees) seeing these as a useful. Runangas were a mechanism traditionally used for pan hapu resolutions on a wide range of matters but the government intended to make them a standing political structure. Kukutai was appointed a head Maori magistrate by Grey in 1861 and government adviser. He had a government salary of 50 pounds per year.
Kukutai fought with the Kingitanga forces at Rangiriri in 1863. He was wounded and taken prisoner on a prison ship in Auckland harbour. Governor Grey tried to have him released as he had been very friendly to settlers in the prewar period and had even given a specific written warning to local Europeans that Ngati Maniapoto were on the war path,thereby saving lives. In addition Kukutai had been wounded trying to save the life of Captain Mercer at Rangiriri. This brave act caused him to be shot twice in the legs. Kukutai was a prisoner of the government so Grey was at first unable to get him released. About 7 months later with a change of government and policy on dealing with surrendered Maori rebel Kukutai was released in Auckland and then allowed to return to his rohe. He was made a major in the NZ Militia and paid an additional 150 pounds per year. Magistrate Gorst in Te Awamutu considered him a spend thrift.
In 1865 Kukutai's hapu was returned 10 or 11 areas of previously confiscated land,mostly in his traditional rohe near modern Lake Karapiro. This was part of the 313,000 acres of land returned to Maori involved in the 1863-64 insurrection, who had surrendered and taken the oath of allegiance to the crown. In 1867 after the death of his wife Kukutai poisoned himself and later died aged 45.
References
- Scott, Gary. "Waata Pihikete Kukutai". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved December 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - Report of the Waikato Committee. Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives 1860.Session 1.
- Te Ara. The Encyclopedia of NZ. Kukutai.Biography.
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