Taonga stolen during Crown invasion returned

Rua Kenana

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

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

The whare was built not long before the Te Urewera settlement was raided and ransacked by the police in 1916, to snuff out the community that had formed at Maungapohatu under the guidance of the Tuhoe 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 Maungapohatu, taking precious taonga from those homes, personal items and a number of other items.

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

Prof Black said the police commissioner at the time even ordered the community's flags be ripped down as they pursued Rua Kenana, who the Crown viewed as seditious.

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

Prof Black said the return of the taonga had reconnected the local hapu, 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 and how they cared for their taonga.”

Prof Black said the return of the taonga had 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 Prof Black worked with Te Whare Taketake O Taonga museum and Whakatane District Council to arrange for their return.

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