Rua
Kenana
was born into the Tamakaimoana tribe of Tuhoe, at Maungapohatu in the Urewera in
1869. His father had died some months earlier fighting alongside
Te Kooti Arikirangi.
Rua had dreams and saw visions and from the time he was seven years old those around him perceived he possessed a holy knowledge far more than was usual for his tender years.
In 1905 Rua set up Hiruharama at Maungapohatu. Within 3 years his followers exceeded 1000 souls mainly from Tuhoe, Ngati Awa, and Whakatohea tribes.
Rua’s messianic religion promised the return of Maori lands and mana or power to Maori and the end of their subjection to Pakeha rule of Aotearoa. Rua claimed he was the prophet whose coming was predicted by Te Kooti.(Te Turaki).
Rua wanted to save the Tuhoe people and protect them totally from the European influences and pursuaded many of them to sell all their stock and farming interests. Rua worked as a Labourer around Gisborne on Pakeha farms, before returning home in his late twentys.
It was at his home Rua had a vision that King Edward of England would come to Gisborne Aotearoa. The white people would be driven into the sea, and the Maori would once more come into his own.
About 1906 he announced the establishment of a New Jerusalem at Maungapohatu in the rugged Ureweras about 20km north of Lake Waikaremoana.
Soon Maungapohatu had a thriving farming community of a 1000 souls, including a co-operative bank and a magnificent two-storied circular temple. Built exactly from directions in the bible it was constructed entirely without nails.
The land was owned and farmed collectively and all proceeds were shared according to need. To the Pakeha view all Maori were lazy, shiftless dirty and drunken, so the return of self-repect (mana) and independence under Rua amazed and angered them.
During World War I Rua was harassed by the Pakeha police and in a moment of anger he said Hitler would win the war. This was the moment the Pakeha were waiting for. Rua and 31 others were arrested for sedition during which shots were exchanged between police and his followers. Rua’s oldest son Toko and Toko's maternal uncle Te Maipi were killed.
A jury found Rua not guilty of sedition and only "morally" guilty of resisting arrest. He served 9 months in Mt Eden Prison, Auckland, during that time a mission school opened in Maungapohatu.
Rua accepted this provision for his people and lived out his days in relative comfort at Matahi, respected and venerated.
Sir Joseph Ward who was reported as saying "I told Rua, that in New Zealand , Edward is King.....There can be no other Government or King...there can't be two suns shining in the sky at once.
T
This
picture shows Rua's arrest on April 2nd 1916, after a shootout between his
followers and 70 armed police. He is handcuffed to his son Whatu.
Rua was sentenced to 12 months hard labour after what was the longest trial in
New Zealand history at the time.