Maniapoto Māori Trust Board Chairman, R.Tiwha Bell, asks for whānau to remain calm in relation to the kaitaka styled cloak purportedly associated with Rewi Manga Maniapoto, that was to be auctioned in England, now cancelled.

Members of the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board were made aware of the cloak and discussed it with tribal knowledge holders. “We concluded that there was just not enough evidence to establish the provenance of the cloak in terms of its association with Rewi Maniapoto” said Mr Bell.

“The only evidence we have is a note which reads ‘Māori mat worn by the chief Rewi when peace was declared between Māori and Europeans after the battle of Ōrākau”. However Mr Bell questions the historical accuracy of the statement. “Peace was not made after the Battle of Ōrākau. Rewi and the other survivors escaped and retreated across the Pūniu River into Maniapoto territory where they set up an aukati – a line that was not to be crossed by Europeans.” It was not until some twenty odd years later that the aukati was lifted and a peace negotiated.

Maniapoto Historian, Dr Tom Roa says that the Battle of Ōrākau was New Zealand’s Thermopylae: “It was quickly romanticised by colonial writers of the day as this heroic but futile last stand by Rewi and his followers.” Dr Roa notes that Rewi Maniapoto and the Battle of Ōrākau were retold in stories, poems and even a movie, and while Maniapoto celebrate him as one of their most important 19th century leaders, Pākehā also developed a fascination with this great Māori hero. “I’m sure it would have been pretty popular to have something purported to belong to Rewi. Whether it was authentic or not is another matter.” Dr Roa believes more investigation needs to be undertaken to establish the provenance of the cloak noting the tribe has some leading experts in the art of weaving such garments.

6 September 2019

New place names restore Maniapoto history

Māori place names have been restored to the small central North Island town of Benneydale, and a nearby stretch of the North Island Main Trunk railway announced Minister for Land Information Eugenie Sage.

Benneydale has been changed to a dual name ‘Maniaiti / Benneydale’ and the main trunk railway between Te Awamutu and Taumarunui, is now named ‘Te Ara-o-Tūrongo’ following a request from Ngāti Maniapoto.

“I am pleased to restore official place names which bring to light our history for everyone to celebrate and enjoy. I accepted the recommendation of the New Zealand Geographic Board that there be the dual name Maniaiti / Benneydale in recognition of the unique histories of both names” said Eugenie Sage.

“The original Māori name, Maniaiti, has been maintained through oral tradition for the land on which the town lies and for the hill nearby. The name means ‘a small slide, slip’.”

Benneydale, home to nearly 200 people was established around 1940 to house workers mining coal discovered in the area. The name Benneydale is a combination of the surnames of the Under-Secretary for Mines, Charlie Benney, and the Mine Superintendent at the time, Tom Dale.

In 1885 Ngāti Maniapoto leaders gave land to the Crown to be used for the construction of the railway on Premier Robert Stout’s assurance that the section running through the district would be called ‘Tūrongo’, a significant tupuna (ancestor) of many Tainui groups. The name Te Ara-o-Tūrongo means ‘the track of Tūrongo’ or ‘Tūrongo’s pathway.’

Both name changes follow proposals to the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa by Te Arawhiti – the Office of Māori Crown Relations (formerly Office of Treaty Settlements), on behalf of Treaty claimants Ngāti Maniapoto.

Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Rereahu share mana whenua over this area.

Chairman for Te Maru o Rereahu Iwi Trust, Eric Crown, says Rereahu are very happy to hear that the New Zealand Geographic Board has accepted our historical record and the Minister has chosen to acknowledge the dual name of Maniaiti / Benneydale.

“It has always been important to Rereahu that our history and reo is maintained and enhanced not only for this generation, but for generations to come. This acknowledgement will not only allow a more complete understanding of our Rereahu Iwi history in the area but will also be an embodiment of the duality envisaged in the Treaty of Waitangi.”

Maniapoto Māori Trust Board Chairman, R Tiwha Bell, says that “the recognition of the original name Maniaiti reflects the wishes of kaumātua of Ngāti Rereahu who sought this outcome as part of the Treaty settlement negotiations with the Crown. We are pleased their wishes have been achieved.”

ENDS

Media Contact: Rick Zwaan 021 845 587 rick.zwaan@parliament.govt.nz