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Download AudioParihaka welcomed the Māori King to cement a relationship that goes back to the land wars.
Wharehoka Wano, who is the Taranaki representative on Kīngi Tūheitia’s advisory council Tekau-ma-Rua says it was King Tuheitia’s first visit to Parihaka Papakainga, as a planned 2017 trip was called off because of his poor health at the time.
But the bond between Waikato and Taranaki goes back to the second king, Taawhiao, and the prophets Te Whiti and Tohu.
“So it was a real coming together in a spiritual sense because it was about wellbeing – the brutality of Land Wars and then confiscation. Parihaka, that’s its legacy and of course that streamed through to Waikato and so Taawhiao or Matutaera as he was known as came down to meet with the prophets, Te Whiti, Tohu, Te Ua Haumēne,” Mr Wano says.
The visit also coincided with the days set aside each month for Te Whiti O Rongomai 18th of each month and the 19th of each month is for Tohu Kākahi
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