🌊 The Story of Kiingi Tāwhiao – Kiingi o te Maungaarongo

In the time of upheaval, when muskets roared and whenua was stripped away, Kiingi Tāwhiao stood as the second Māori King. His reign began in 1860, a season drenched in battle and confiscation as the Waikato was invaded. Many would have broken under the weight of such loss — but not Tāwhiao.

Like a Jedi who has seen the fury of war, he made a choice that turned the course of history. Instead of wielding the blade forever, he reached for peace. He became known as Kiingi o te Maungaarongo — the King of Peace.

His kupu still echo through the ages:

🔹 “Ko ahau kei roto, ko te Atua tōku piringa, ka puta, ka ora.”

(Though the storm rages outside, my refuge is with God — and from there, life will spring forth.)

🔹 “Kia ngohengohe ngā wairua katoa ki ngā mana nui.”

(Let all spirits be gentle before the great powers.)

🌌 The Jedi Parallel

Tāwhiao’s path is like that of a Jedi Master who has seen both sides of the Force. He knew the destruction that war brought — yet he also knew the greater battle was for the wairua of his people. His mission was to restore mana, resilience, and identity, not with the sword, but with the spirit.

He built a legacy of peace that carried the Kīngitanga through dark times, keeping the flame alive for generations. His leadership whispered to his people: “We are more than what was taken. Our mauri, our whakapapa, and our identity cannot be confiscated.”

⚔️ The Call Today

For us, the descendants, his message still stands:

When challenges rise, find strength in whakapono.

When the world pushes us into conflict, remember the higher path of maungārongo.

Our identity, like the Jedi cloak, protects and empowers us.

Tāwhiao walked the line between war and peace, and in choosing peace, he showed the true depth of mana motuhake.

🌿✨ He was not just a king of his time, but a beacon for ours.