Tohitapu

As a Tohunga o Tumatauenga (expert in weapons or war party chaplain) he was acknowledged by the Ngāpuhi of the Bay of Islands as a spiritual leader who possessed the ability of communicating between the spiritual and temporal realms through karakia (prayers), pātere (chants) or performing waiata (songs). On 28 November 1832, the Revd. Alfred Brown witnessed Tohitapu practicing as a Tohunga to foresee the success of Tītore’s second muru (war expedition)[http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/publications-archived/2001/he-hinatore-ki-te-ao-maori-a-glimpse-into-the-maori-world/part-1-traditional-maori-concepts/muru "Traditional Maori Concepts, Muru" Ministry of Justice website] to Tauranga, which followed the Girls' War in the Bay of Islands.Smith, S. Percy – Maori Wars of the Nineteenth Century (Christchurch 1910) page 450. [http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-SmiMaor-t1-body-d78.html] at NZETC{{cite web|title=The Missionary Register|pages=499–500 |date= 1833| url= http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document/?wid=3090&page=0&action=null| publisher =Early New Zealand Books (ENZB), University of Auckland Library | access-date=9 March 2019}}

Tohitapu lived at Te Haumi{{cite book |last1= Rogers |first1= Lawrence M. |title= Te Wiremu: A Biography of Henry Williams|year=1973 |publisher=Pegasus Press |pages= 55–56}} and was a frequent visitor to the Revd. Henry Williams at Paihia. Although there occurred miss-understandings and several confrontations between them. One of the most severe was the confrontation on 12 January 1824, which was witnessed by other chiefs.{{cite book |last1= Gillies |first1= Iain and John |title= East Coast Pioneers. A Williams Family Portrait; A Legacy of Land, Love and Partnership |year=1998 |publisher= The Gisborne Herald Co. Ltd |location= Gisborne NZ |isbn= 0-473-05118-4|page=9f }} The incident began when Tohitapu visited the mission. As the gate was shut, Tohitapu jumped over the fence. Williams demanded that Tohitapu enter the mission using the gate. Tohitapu was a chief and a tohunga, skilled in the magic known as makutu. Tohitapu was offended by William's demand and began a threatening haka flourishing his mere and taiaha. Williams faced down this challenge. Tohitapu then seized a pot, which he claimed as compensation for hurting his foot in jumping over the fence, whereupon Williams seized the pot from Tohitapu. The incidence continued through the night during which Tohitapu began a karakia or incantation of bewitchment. Williams had no fear of the karakia.{{cite book |last1= Fitzgerald |first1= Caroline |title= Marianne Williams: Letters from the Bay of Islands |year=2004|publisher= Penguin Books, New Zealand |isbn=0-14-301929-5 |pages=72–78 }} The next morning Tohitapu and Williams reconciled their differences, although the failure of the karakia to have any effect on Henry Williams reinforced his mana and created doubt among the Ngāpuhi as to the powers of a Tohunga.{{cite web | url = http://www.waitangi.com/religion/01.html | access-date =5 December 2017| title = The Trail of Waitangi: Tohitapu and a Touch of Mäkutu | last = Williams | first = GE | year = 2001 | publisher = Early New Zealand History: Covering the Introduction of Civilization, the Gospel, Treaty etc. to New Zealand}}{{cite book |last1= Rogers |first1= Lawrence M. |title= Te Wiremu: A Biography of Henry Williams|year=1973 |publisher=Pegasus Press |pages= 101–102}}

Tohitapu remained a supporter of Williams and the mission at Paihia.Fitzgerald 2004, p. 94 (letter of 7 October 1824) In 1829, Tohitapu came to the assistance of the CMS missionaries when the action of one of the Māori assistants of the mission damaged part of one of Te Koki’s houses, which was a serious offence against Māori custom.{{cite book |last1= Rogers |first1= Lawrence M. |title= Te Wiremu: A Biography of Henry Williams|year=1973 |publisher=Pegasus Press |pages= 79–80}} Te Koki was the principal chief of the Ngāpuhi at Paihia, uncle of Hongi Hika, brother to Tuhikura, of Ngāti Rehua, and husband of Ana Hamu.

Tohitapu accepted changes that followed from the work of the CMS missionaries. In March 1828, Tohitapu, Henry Williams and George Clarke were present at fighting occurring between the Ngāpuhi and Te Mahurehure hapū (subtribe). Tohitapu addressed the Ngāpuhi and ordered that no fighting would take place the next day as it was a Sunday.Missionary Register (1828) Vol. 20, page 468 The Revd A. N. Brown reported in his journal of August 1831 that Tohitapu choose to apply a less severe punishment to a slave, when the penalty under Māori custom was usually death.Missionary Register (1832) Vol. 20, page 191

Tohitapu also engaged in mediation of conflicts between Ngāpuhi chiefs. The death of Tiki, a son of Pōmare I (also called Whetoi){{cite web|first= Angela |last= Ballara |title = Pomare I | date =30 October 2012|url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/1p19/pomare-i |publisher= Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|access-date=4 March 2014}} and the subsequent death of Te Whareumu in 1828 threw the Hokianga into a state of uncertainty as the Ngāpuhi chiefs debated whether revenge was necessary following the death of a chief. Henry Williams, Richard Davis and Tohitapu mediated between the combatants.{{cite book |last1= Rogers |first1= Lawrence M. |title= Te Wiremu: A Biography of Henry Williams|year=1973 |publisher=Pegasus Press |pages= 73–74}}{{cite book |last1= Fitzgerald |first1= Caroline |title= Marianne Williams: Letters from the Bay of Islands |year=2004|publisher= Penguin Books, New Zealand |isbn=0-14-301929-5 |page=101 |chapter= Journal of Marianne Williams, (17 March 1828) }} As the chiefs did not want to escalate the fighting, a peaceful resolution was achieved.{{cite book |last1= Fitzgerald |first1= Caroline |title= Marianne Williams: Letters from the Bay of Islands |year=2004|publisher= Penguin Books, New Zealand |isbn=0-14-301929-5 |pages= 101–107 }} During the Girls' War in March 1830, Tohitapu sought the assistance of the CMS missionaries to mediated between the combatants.{{cite web|title=The Missionary Register|pages=56–60 |date= 1813| url= http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document/?wid=3065&page=0&action=null| publisher =Early New Zealand Books (ENZB), University of Auckland Library | access-date=9 March 2019}} In December 1831, Tohitapu requested that the CMS missionaries intervene to stop the fighting at Kororāreka between the warriors of Tītore and Tareha.{{cite web|title=The Missionary Register|pages=409–410 |date= 1832| url= http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document/?wid=3080&page=0&action=null| publisher =Early New Zealand Books (ENZB), University of Auckland Library | access-date=9 March 2019}}{{cite book |last1= Carleton |first1=Hugh |title= The Life of Henry Williams|year= 1874 |publisher= Early New Zealand Books (ENZB), University of Auckland Library|pages=78–87 |chapter= Vol. I |chapter-url= http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=1041&page=0&action=null }}

The journals of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) missionaries describe Tohitapu as a person of high intelligence and considerable mana among the Te Roroa and Ngāpuhi. The Revd. Henry Williams said “he is a very important person in his way, though our good folks generally cannot manage him”.{{cite book |last1= Fitzgerald |first1= Caroline |title= Te Wiremu: Henry Williams – Early Years in the North |year=2011|publisher= Huia Publishers, New Zealand |isbn=978-1-86969-439-5 |page=149 }}

Tohitapu did not renounce his status as a Tohunga and warrior or become a Christian. From January 1832 until late July 1832 Tohitapu was part of the muru, or war expedition, that Tītore and Ngāpuhi warriors made to Tauranga, which followed the Girls' War.{{cite book |last1= Carleton |first1=Hugh |title= The Life of Henry Williams|year= 1874 |publisher= Early New Zealand Books (ENZB), University of Auckland Library|pages=78–87 |chapter= Vol. I |chapter-url=http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=1041&page=0&action=null }} In February 1833, Tohitapu joined the second muru led by Tītore with Te Rarawa warriors, allies of the Ngāpuhi, from the North Cape back to Tauranga to continue the war expedition.Proceedings of the Church Missionary Society for Africa and the East, (1834) vol 5, page 263 Henry Williams accompanied both expeditions in an attempt to bring them to a peaceful conclusion.{{cite book |last1= Carleton |first1=Hugh |title= The Life of Henry Williams|year= 1874 |publisher= Early New Zealand Books (ENZB), University of Auckland Library|pages=130–133|chapter= Vol. I |chapter-url=http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document?wid=1042&page=0&action=null}}

Tohitapu died in the Bay of Islands on 14 July 1833.Smith, S. Percy – Maori Wars of the Nineteenth Century (Christchurch 1910) page 458. [http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-SmiMaor-t1-body-d78.html online] at NZETC On 17 January 1834, CMS missionaries went to Wangai, a settlement south-east of Paihia, to attend the funeral feast held at the hahunga (disinterment and bone cleansing ceremony) of the bones of Tohitapu.{{cite web|title=The Missionary Register|pages=555 |date= 1835| url= http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document/?wid=3129&page=0&action=null| publisher =Early New Zealand Books (ENZB), University of Auckland Library | access-date=9 March 2019}}

• {{Aut|Bentley, Trevor}} (2010) - Cannibal Jack: The Life & Times of Jacky Marmon, a Pakeha-Maori, Penguin Books, New Zealand {{ISBN| 978-0143203827}}
• {{Aut|Brown, Alfred Nesbit}} (1856) - Brief Memorials of an Only Son (2nd ed.) [http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/epubs] from Early New Zealand Books (ENZB).
• {{Aut|Carleton, Hugh}} (1874) - The life of Henry Williams, Archdeacon of Waimate, Volume I. Auckland NZ. [http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document/?wid=1038&action=null Online available] from Early New Zealand Books (ENZB).
• {{Aut|Fitzgerald, Caroline}} (2011) - Te Wiremu - Henry Williams: Early Years in the North, Huia Publishers, New Zealand {{ISBN|978-1-86969-439-5}}
• {{Aut|Fitzgerald, Caroline}} (2004) - Letters from the Bay of Islands, Sutton Publishing Limited, United Kingdom; {{ISBN|0-7509-3696-7}} (Hardcover). Penguin Books, New Zealand, (Paperback) {{ISBN|0-14-301929-5}}
• {{Aut|Rogers, Lawrence M.}} (1973) - Te Wiremu: A Biography of Henry Williams, Christchurch : Pegasus Press
• {{Aut|Rogers, Lawrence M. (editor)}} (1961) - The Early Journals of Henry Williams 1826 to 1840. Christchurch : Pegasus Press. [http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz//tm/scholarly/tei-RogEarl.html online available] at New Zealand Electronic Text Centre (NZETC) (2011-06-27)

{{reflist|2}}

• {{cite web| work= 'The Early Journals of Henry Williams' (1832) page 264|title= A drawing of Tohitapu by Henry Williams |url= http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/RogEarl-fig-RogEarlP005a.html| access-date=5 December 2017}}
• {{cite web| work= Collection of the Auckland Museum|title= A drawing of Tohitapu by Henry Williams |url= http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/collection/object/am_library-paintinganddrawings-416| access-date=5 December 2017}}

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Category:1833 deaths

Category:Te Roroa people

Category:Tohunga

Category:Year of birth unknown