Story: Kīngitanga – the Māori King movement

Pōtatau's pā

Pōtatau's pā

This painting of the of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero near Ngāruawāhia in Waikato was made in 1847, about 10 years before he became the first Māori king. In the background stands the sacred maunga of Taupiri, on which Māori monarchs are traditionally buried. Ngāruawāhia remains the base for the Māori King movement in the 21st century.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PUBL-0014-15
Tinted lithograph by J. W. Giles

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Rahui Papa and Paul Meredith, 'Kīngitanga – the Māori King movement - Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, 1858–1860', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/37861/potataus-pa (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Rahui Papa and Paul Meredith, published 20 Jun 2012, reviewed & revised 2 Mar 2023