Taonga stolen during Crown invasion of Maungapōhatu returned

Tūhoe prophet Rua Kenana. Photo / RNZ

Several taonga stolen by the police during the Crown invasion and sacking of Maungapōhatu a century ago have been returned.

The return was set to coincide with the rededication of the wharenui, Tānenuiārangi, which has undergone extensive refurbishment to the building and its carvings.

The whare was built not long before the Te Urewera community was raided and ransacked by the police in 1916, to snuff out the community that had formed at Maungapōhatu under the guidance of the Tūhoe prophet Rua Kenana.

During that invasion, several taonga - including tokotoko, flags and kakahu - were taken, and ended up sequestered in museums around the country for more than a century.

Professor Taiarahia Black, who helped with the return of the taonga, said the people never forgot what happened.

“The police had ransacked all of the homes at Maungapōhatu, taking precious taonga from those homes, personal items and a number of other items.

Dr Taiarahia Black helped return the taonga to Te Urewera. Photo / RNZ

“They just helped themselves. These taonga were kakahu, tewhatewha, tokotoko, [and] a number of other things.”

Black said the Police Commissioner at the time even ordered the community’s flags be ripped down as they pursued Rua Kenana, whom the Crown viewed as seditious.

In 2019, the Crown apologised, and pardoned Rua Kenana posthumously.

Black said the return of the taonga has reconnected the local hapū, Tamakaimoana, to their ancestors.

“The taonga unlocks their memory; allows Tamakaimoana of today to be part of the spiritual experience of all of these taonga that were on the marae.

“It allows us to get a feel for how the people lived - how they cared for their taonga.”

Black said the return of the taonga has already boosted confidence within the community, which will be channelled into better research and education opportunities.

The taonga were scattered in museums throughout the country, and Black worked with Te Whare Taketake Ō Taonga museum and Whakatāne District Council to arrange for their return.

Now, they have finally returned to their home, deep within the luscious misty hills of Te Urewera.