PĀNUI | 132 years on, Manga's final words heard again

A gathering held in Te Awamutu on 29 May 2026 has brought renewed attention to what is believed to be the only surviving written account of Manga (Rewi) Maniapoto’s final public speech.

Te Whānau ā Te Haate gathered at the Te Awamutu Information Centre on 24 May to commemorate 101 years since the passing of Matengaro Te Haate, a respected rangatira, tohunga, and recorder of whakapapa whose writings continue to preserve important parts of Tainui history.

"He rā nui tēnei. Ehara i te mea nā te rironga o tō mātou Koro Matengaro 101 tau ki muri anahe, heoi nā te roa o āna taonga e huna ana i te tirohanga kanohi i rō pouaka i roto hoki i te kāpata. Today, marks a new day not just for our whānau, but for the motu" says organiser and spokesperson for the event, Te Haate Farrar.

Image: Matengaro Te Haate's Manuscript of Manga's last speech, page 1.

Central to the commemoration was a manuscript recorded by Matengaro Te Haate in 1894, documenting the final known public address of Manga. No other written version of the speech is known by the whānau to exist.

During the hui, Te Haate Farrar read the speech aloud in both te reo Māori and English, including the words:

“Ko te rā tēnei e kuhua ai ngā raruraru katoa i raro i toku kohatu.”

The reading formed part of a wider discussion around the preservation of kōrero tuku iho and the responsibility of passing those stories on to future generations.

Image: Matengaro Te Haate's Manuscript of Manga's last speech, page 2.

The gathering also considered a request from author and researcher Kaawhia Te Muraahi, who sought endorsement from the whānau to include Matengaro Te Haate’s writings in his forthcoming book, Te Kōorero me te Haerenga o Te Kaitaka.

The book follows the story of the kaitaka (cloak) connected to Rewi Maniapoto, believed to have been woven between 1850 and 1860. The upcoming publication, expected to be published later in 2026, explores the history surrounding the cloak, which was recently recovered from an auction house in Sussex, England, after remaining with descendants of John Rice for generations.

"The ōhākī is the epitome of the book itself and if it not for your tūpuna, that would never ever have been recorded anywhere" said Kaawhia during his presentation to whānau.

Image: Elinor Te Haate & Margaret Graham after a catch up on 27 February 2026.

A statement from Kui Margaret Graham shared on the day highlighted the significance of preserving these stories for younger generations. “When we were growing up we knew nothing. No one told us anything,” she said. “So if that was done, when the young generation grows up they can say well this is what mum and dad, the aunties and uncles left for us.”

Following discussions, Te Whānau ā Te Haate endorsed the use of the requested manuscript material for inclusion in the book. The formal endorsement marks another step for Te Whānau ā Te Haate in preserving their kōrero tuku iho, and sharing its kura with their uri and the world.