Tāwhiao

Māori King who unified tribes and resisted British colonization in 19th-century New Zealand through nonviolent resistance.

Tāwhiao (1825–1894), the second Māori King, led the Waikato tribes during the New Zealand Wars (1863–1872). After British forces invaded Waikato in 1863, Tāwhiao retreated to the King Country, establishing an autonomous Māori state that rejected colonial laws and land confiscation.

He adopted the slogan 'Tekau mā rua' (The Twelve)—a code of conduct emphasizing peace, unity, and spiritual resilience. Unlike other leaders, Tāwhiao prioritized diplomatic resistance over warfare, negotiating with colonial governments to protect Māori sovereignty. His 1881 return from exile, where he laid down arms before Governor Grey, became a powerful symbol of moral authority.

Tāwhiao also promoted economic self-sufficiency, founding banks and farming cooperatives. Though his dream of an independent Māori nation was never realized, his efforts preserved tribal cohesion and laid groundwork for the Māori King Movement that continues today. In 1995, Queen Elizabeth II formally apologized for the Waikato invasion, partially fulfilling Tāwhiao's vision of reconciliation.