Te Whiti-o-Rongomai was born during the Musket Wars in 1830. He was the son of a Tohukakahi who was a minor chief.  As a child Te Whiti attended Reimenschneider Mission School in Warea. He was known for Bible Studies because he was so good at. After he left school he started up a flour mill.

By 1840 Parihaka had become the biggest village in the country.  In 1879 the Europeans invaded the land. In 1881 the Europeans began attacking the Maori people and taking away the land unfairly. Te Whiti protested in a peaceful way. Thousands of Maori people were arrested including him. In jail he played mind games on the guards.   He was not allow out when his wife died or attend her funeral. While in prison he learnt how to use Europeans technology. He learnt how to cut plate steel, which he later taught his people. It is thought that he was the first person to use a telephone at theChristchurch railway.

 

Shortly after his wife died he got released from prison and he went back to Paihaka .  Te Whiti was an inspirational leader because he did not use arms against other people in the war because he was a peace keeper.   Te Whiti always fought for what he believed in and never backed down.

By Oscar