Tāwhiao [SEP] sister
his mother's parents.
In 1858 Te Wherowhero was installed as the first Māori King (taking the name Pōtatau), his purpose being to promote unity among the Māori people in the face of Pākehā encroachment. When Pōtatau died in 1860, Tāwhiao, his sister Te Paea Tiaho, and Wiremu Tamihana Tarapipipi of Ngāti Hauā were candidates to succeed him. Tāwhiao was chosen and reigned for thirty-four years during one of the most difficult and discouraging periods of Māori history. During this period there were de jure two governments
, southwest of the lake, taking more prisoners as he travelled.
Early in July Te Kooti and his followers and prisoners—a group of possibly more than 800—set off for Tokangamutu, the temporary residence of Māori King Tāwhiao near Te Kuiti, where he hoped to either force Tāwhiao into an alliance or topple him.
Challenge to King Tāwhiao.
A meeting between Te Kooti and Tāwhiao—had it taken place—would have been a confrontation of two prophets and leaders, each of whom had taken diametrically opposed positions