Last week we drove out to Kaikohe on one of those very blustery cold winter days and boy was it cold, we basically dodged the hail. Anyway we decided to stop off at the Monument to Hone Heke (not the Hone Heke who was involved in the treaty of Waitangi - that was his great uncle) who was born in Kaikohe in 1869 and a direct descendant of Rahiri. He was closely affiliated with Ngapuhi and 5 other tribes.
The family and tribal home was also in Kaikohe and he attended Oromahoe and Kawakawa native schools. After showing early promise his family sent him to St Stephen's in Parnell, Auckland. After leaving school he worked for a while driving a bullock team operating between Kaikohe and Haruru possibly for his father who owned a team of 12 bullocks.
In his youth Hone Heke became aware of the aspirations of Maori for unity and independance, initially expressed by the 1835 Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand. These ideas were expanded during the 1880s into the Kotahitanga movement, whose aims included control by Maori over Maori lands and a degree of influence in local government.
At the 2nd session of the Maori parliament in 1893 Hone Heke may have asked permission to speak with the assembly but because of his age he was refused. Apparently he then addressed the people outside and when 2 of the Maori elders heard him they were impressed by his knowledge so he was asked to address the whole assembly and the whole evening was given to him.
The impact he made lead to his gaining and influential position in the movement. He worked tirelessly, travelling the country to gain support. Te Kotahitanga became the strongest unifying force between Maori and in his early 20s he was elected to the House of Representatives then further elected chairman of the Council of Paramount Chiefs.
He proved himself as a gifted speaker with an ability to state a case clearly and in an orderly fashion. In 1894 he introduced the Native Rights Bill into the house which asked for a constitution for Maori with protection of their rights under the Treaty of Waitangi.
Throughout his parliamentary career Heke remained an advocate of legislative reform to improve conditions for Maori people and his impact in the house was huge. In 1909 around the age of 40 sadly he passed away from tuberculosis and 2 years later this memorial stone was unveiled on Kaikohe Hill. More information here.
Linking up with Our World Tuesday and My Corner of the World.
