Hēni Te Kiri Karamū

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Hēni Te Kiri Karamū
Born1840
Kaitaia, New Zealand
Died24 June 1933
Rotorua, New Zealand
Other namesHēni Pore, Jane Foley
OccupationTribal leader, warrior, teacher, interpreter

Hēni Te Kiri Karamū (1840 – 24 June 1933), known sometimes as Hēni Pore (anglicised as Jane Foley, after her second husband's surname),[1], was a notable New Zealand tribal leader, teacher, interpreter, and wāhine toa, or woman warrior. Of Māori descent, she identified with the and Te Arawa iwi.

Biography[]

Hēni Te Kiri Karamū was born in Kaitaia, New Zealand, in 1840.[2] Her mother had been taken by Ngāpuhi to Northland, after the iwi had taken Mokoia Island.[2] She spent much of her childhood in mission schools in Maketu and Auckland, becoming an assistant teacher at the Wesleyan Native Institution in Three Kings.[2] When her parents moved back to Northland she followed, marrying Te Kiri Karamū, a Ngāti Rangiteaorere kauri gum digger, and living at Katikati.[2] In 1861, she left her husband after a disagreement, taking her children to live at Maraetai with her mother.[2]

Hēni Te Kiri Karamū and her family fought in the Invasion of the Waikato and the Tauranga campaign of 1863 and 1864 among Ngāti Koheriki (a group of Ngāti Pāoa led by Wī Kōkā), supporting the Kīngitanga movement.[1][3] During the war, Hēni Te Kiri Karamū was known for carrying a baby on her back during the war.[4] During the conflict, Hēni Te Kiri Karamū created three flags during this time for Ngāti Koheriki, including a red silk flag named Aotearoa, now housed at the Auckland Museum.[2][3] She was the only woman present at the Battle of Gate Pā (1864),[1] having stayed as she was recognised as a capable warrior, and to not leave her brother Neri behind.[2] During the battle, Hēni Te Kiri Karamū gave water to the wounded British soldiers.[4]

After the Battle of Gate Pā, Hēni Te Kiri Karamū moved to Hapokai on Mokoia Island.[2] In 1865 and 1866, she aligned with the British Crown to fight Pai Mārire. Working alongside her uncle Mātenga Te Ruru, they captured Ngāi Te Rangi leader Hōri Tūpaea.[2] In 1865, Hēni Te Kiri Karamū fought among Te Arawa, against Pai Mārire-aligned iwi near Whakatāne.[2]

In 1869 she married Denis Stephen Foley, moving to Katikati, and having three daughters and three sons.[2] At this time, she was more widely known as Hēni Pore.[2] In 1870, Hēni applied for a protection order against Foley who had drunkenly attacked her, later returning to Rotorua.[2] In later years, she worked as an interpreter, and was active with the New Zealand Women's Christian Temperance Union.[2] She passed away in June 1933 in Rotorua.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prickett, Nigel (2004). "MAORI CASUALTIES AT PUKEHINAHINA (GATE PA), 29 APRIL 1864". Records of the Auckland Museum. 41: 37–52. ISSN 1174-9202.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Oliver, Steven. "Heni Te Kiri Karamu". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Rice, R. (2018). "THE'GORDON COLLECTION'OF PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS RELATING TO THE NEW ZEALAND WARS". New Zealand Journal of History. 51 (1): 37–52.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Cowan, James (1935). "A Can of Cold Water — The Heroine of the Gate Pa". Hero stories of New Zealand. Harry H. Tombs (Wellington). pp. 120–129. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
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