Hāmiora Mangakāhia

Hāmiora Mangakāhia (1838 – 4 June 1918) was a prominent Māori chief and the first Premier of Te Kotahitanga, the movement for an independent Māori parliament in New Zealand in the 1890s. Of Ngati Whanaunga descent, Mangakāhia was born in Waikaurau on the Coromandel Peninsula.^[1] In 1892 he was one of 19 chiefs elected to represent Te Tai Hauāuru in the Lower House of Te Kotahitanga at its first sitting at Waipatu Marae. As a leading organiser of the movement, he was nominated by fellow chiefs Henare Tomoana and Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui to the position of Premier, which he held for the duration of the 1892 sitting of the parliament.

Hāmiora Mangakāhia
1st Premier of the Te Kotahitanga (Māori Parliament)
In office June 1892 – July 1893
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Hoani Te Whatahoro Jury
In office 1895–1898
Preceded by	Hoani Te Whatahoro Jury
Member of the Te Kotahitanga (Māori Parliament)
In office June 1892 – 1902
Personal details
Born	1830 Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand
Died	(1918-06-04)4 June 1918
Spouse	Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia
Profession	Politician

Prior to his involvement in Te Kotahitanga, Mangakāhia unsuccessfully contested the Western Maori electorate in the New Zealand Parliament in the 1881 and 1884 elections. In 1881, he came a distant second of four candidates, trailing Wiremu Te Wheoro by over 53% of the vote.^[2] In 1884, of eight candidates, he came seventh with 8.85% of the vote.^[3] Mangakāhia was also a frequent appellant to the Native Affairs Committee.^[4]

He was married to Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia, a leading figure in the movement for Women's suffrage in New Zealand. One of his daughters, Mabel Mangakāhia, was a notable nurse.^[5]

References

1. Ballara, Angela. "Hamiora Mangakahia". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
2. "Wellington". Wanganui Herald. Vol. XV, no. 4542. 13 December 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
3. "The Western Maori Election". Waikato Times. Vol. XXIII, no. 1885. 5 August 1884. p. 3. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
4. "Hamiora Mangakahia | NZETC". Nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
5. Ballara, Angela. "Mangakāhia, Mabel Te Aowhaitini". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 31 August 2020.