Wiremu Kīngi Maketū (also known as Maketū Wharetotara or Waretotara) (c. 1824 – 7 March 1842) was the first person executed in

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

under British rule. Maketū was also the first New Zealand Māori to be tried and punished based on British sovereignty over New Zealand.

The murders on Motuarohia Island

Maketū was the son of Ruhe of Waimate, a chief of the

Ngāpuhi Ngāpuhi (also known as Ngāpuhi-Nui-Tonu or Ngā Puhi) is a Māori iwi associated with the Northland regions of New Zealand centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands, and Whangārei. According to the 2023 New Zealand census, the estimate ...

. Maketū was accused of the murder of 5 people on 20 November 1841 on Motuarohia Island in the Bay of Islands. He was accused of killing Thomas Bull (referred to in the later trial as Tamati Puru) with an

adze An adze () or adz is an ancient and versatile cutting tool similar to an axe but with the cutting edge perpendicular to the handle rather than parallel. Adzes have been used since the Stone Age. They are used for smoothing or carving wood in ha ...

. The explanation for this killing was that Thomas Bull had been mistreating Maketū. Maketū was accused of then killing his employer Elizabeth Roberton (a widow), her two children and Isabella Brind, who was the granddaughter of Rewa, a chief of the Ngai Tawake

hapū In Māori language, Māori and New Zealand English, a ' ("subtribe", or "clan") functions as "the basic political unit within Māori society". A Māori person can belong to or have links to many hapū. Historically, each hapū had its own chief ...

of the

iwi Iwi () are the largest social units in New Zealand Māori society. In Māori, roughly means or , and is often translated as "tribe". The word is both singular and plural in the Māori language, and is typically pluralised as such in English. ...

Kerikeri Kerikeri () is a town in the Bay of Islands, in the Far North District of the North Island of New Zealand. It lies at the head of Kerikeri Inlet, a northwestern arm of the Bay of Islands, where fresh water of the Kerikeri River enters the Paci ...

. Isabella's parents were Moewaka (Rewa's daughter) and Captain William Darby Brind. He was also accused of setting Roberton's house on fire.

The arguments among the Ngāpuhi as to the surrender of Maketū to the colonial authorities

At first the Ngāpuhi refused to surrender Maketū to the colonial authorities for trial. Eventually Ruhe, the father, consented. It may be assumed that the death of Rewa's grandchild, for which ''utu''''"Traditional Maori Concepts, Utu"'' Ministry of Justice website
/ref> n act of reciprocation for the deathwas due, had much to do with this decision.

Hōne Heke Hōne Wiremu Heke Pōkai ( 1807 – 7 August 1850), born Heke Pōkai and later often referred to as Hōne Heke, was a highly influential Māori rangatira (chief) of the Ngāpuhi iwi (tribe) and a war leader in northern New Zealand; he was ...

had been absent from the Bay of Islands, and on his return he advocated among the Ngāpuhi for confrontation against the Government. A meeting of the Ngāpuhi was arranged by the Rev. Henry Williams at

Paihia Paihia is a town in the Bay of Islands in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is 60 kilometres north of Whangārei, located close to the historic towns of Russell, New Zealand, Russell and Kerikeri. Missionary Henry Wi ...

at the request of Tāmati Wāka Nene. The meeting took place on 16 December 1841 and including Ngāpuhi from Whangaroa and Hokianga, with upwards of a thousand being present. The meeting was turbulent with Heke expressing his opposition to the surrender of Maketū. When he rose to speak, he interrupted Paerau who was speaking and flourishing his hatchet at him. Upon this Whiria ( Pōmare II) left the meeting as he did not want to be involved in fighting between the different

of the Ngāpuhi, which had occurred in 1830 in the so-called Girls' War. Heke did not persuade the Ngāpuhi to accept his position. The meeting ended with Heke and his supporters conducting a

Haka Haka (, ; singular ''haka'', in both Māori language, Māori and New Zealand English) are a variety of ceremonial dances in Māori culture. A performance art, hakas are often performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the f ...

on the beach at Paihia, firing their muskets, which were loaded with ball. Henry Williams prepared a statement of resolutions made by the Ngāpuhi who dissociated themselves from Maketū's action, which was signed by Tāmati Wāka Nene, Pomare II, Waikato, Rewa, and Ruhe (Maketū's father). This message was sent to George Clarke, who had been appointed by

Lieutenant-Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a " second-in-com ...

William Hobson as the 'Protector of Aborigines'. The message was published in ''The New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette''. Ruhe seems to have been over-borne by the Ngāpuhi chiefs that supported the surrender of Maketū, as afterwards Ruhe appeared to regret his decision as he threatened to shoot George Clarke's cattle because he had taken his son prisoner to

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

The trial of Maketū for murder

Beginning on 1 March 1842, Maketū was tried in the

Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

in Auckland with Chief Justice William Martin presiding. It was the first time that a Māori had been brought before the colonial courts. C.B. Brewer was only retained to appear as Maketū's legal counsel about an hour before the trial came on; he had no opportunity of communicating with Maketū, nor did he see the depositions before he came into court that morning. Brewer argued that the court did not have jurisdiction over Maketū, on the ground of the prisoner's ignorance of the crime of murder that was in the penal law of the colony, and of his having no possible means or opportunity of understanding the penal law of the colony.

William Swainson William Swainson Fellow of the Linnean Society, FLS, Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (8 October 1789 – 6 December 1855), was an English ornithologist, Malacology, malacologist, Conchology, conchologist, entomologist and artist. Life Swains ...

, the prosecuting counsel, argued that there should be one rule for all people, whether Māori or

Pākehā ''Pākehā'' (or ''Pakeha''; ; ) is a Māori language, Māori-language word used in English, particularly in New Zealand. It generally means a non-Polynesians, Polynesian New Zealanders, New Zealander or more specifically a European New Zeala ...

. Martin CJ ruled that Maketū could be tried and punished by the court. Maketū pleaded not guilty. The jury heard evidence of Maketū's confessions to the killings and he was convicted of murder by a jury and was sentenced to death. He was hanged at the corner of

Queen Queen most commonly refers to: * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a kingdom * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen (band), a British rock band Queen or QUEEN may also refer to: Monarchy * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Q ...

and Victoria Streets in Auckland. On the morning of his execution, he requested to be baptised in the Anglican rite and took the Christian names "Wiremu Kīngi". Just prior to his execution, Maketū dictated a statement whereby he said that his execution was just because "it is my own doing" and that he had prayed to God to "wash my sins away". Maketū was approximately 16 when the crimes were committed. He was executed in Auckland on 7 March 1842, at the age of 17.

The aftermath of the trial

Later in 1842, Swainson, who was the attorney general, wrote to the Colonial Office, giving his legal opinion that the proceedings was usurpation of Māori sovereignty and went beyond the provisions of the

Treaty of Waitangi The Treaty of Waitangi (), sometimes referred to as ''Te Tiriti'', is a document of central importance to the history of New Zealand, Constitution of New Zealand, its constitution, and its national mythos. It has played a major role in the tr ...

. The response by James Stephen of the Colonial Office concluded "Mr Swainson may think this is unjust or impolitic or inconsistent with former Acts, but still it is done". Moon (2013) comments that "what made this extension of British law into Maori communities possible in the manner in which it happened was the 16 December 1841 resolution which the twenty chiefs signed." These events were considered a turning point in the history of the Colony, as

became an antagonist to the colonial administration and began gathering support among the Ngāpuhi for a rebellion against the colonial administration, which occurred in 1845 with the

Flagstaff War The Flagstaff War, also known as Heke's War, Hōne Heke's Rebellion and the Northern War, was fought between 11 March 1845 and 11 January 1846 in and around the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. The conflict is best remembered for the actions of H� ...

References

Additional information

*Paul Moon (2010). ''New Zealand Birth Certificates: 50 of New Zealand's Founding Documents'' (Auckland, AUT Media: ) pp 68–69.

External links

"Maketū Wharetotara"
NZ History online, nzhistory.net.nz {{DEFAULTSORT:Maketu, Wiremy Kingi 1820s births 1842 deaths 19th-century murders in New Zealand 19th-century executions by New Zealand Children executed by the United Kingdom Executed mass murderers Executed New Zealand people Massacres in 1842 Massacres in New Zealand New Zealand Anglicans New Zealand children New Zealand mass murderers New Zealand murderers of children New Zealand people convicted of murder Ngāpuhi people People convicted of murder by New Zealand People executed by New Zealand by hanging People executed by British colonies by hanging People from the Bay of Islands