Te Whiti o Rongomai
November 6
“Te Whiti o Rongomai was born at Ngamotu near New Plymouth, about 1831. He was educated by missionaries and developed an intense love of the Bible. During the turbulent 1860s he sought a peaceful means of fostering Maori claims.
At Parihaka he built a model community, and after the war encouraged his people to resist peacefully the unjust occupation of confiscated land. This led to conflict with the government.
On 5 November 1881 armed constabulary entered Parihaka. They were met by children chanting songs. Te Whiti was arrested and imprisoned without trial for a year.
He died in 1907.” ( For All the Saints)
Further Reading
“Te Whiti-o-Rongomai III, Erueti” (Dictionary of New Zealand Biography)
“Remembering Parihaka” (National Library of New Zealand)
"Parihaka o neherā, o nāianei : Parihaka – past and present" - Parihaka Schools Resource, Years 1-13 (Caritas)
Saints Days and Commemorations
