Summary
Rongomatane Ngaakaara Ariki was an ariki of the island of Atiu in the Cook Islands. He established Atiuan domination over the neighbouring islands of Mitiaro, and Mauke through a succession of raids. He was converted to Christianity in 1823 by John Williams of the London Missionary Society, and showed him the way to Rarotonga.
Rongomatane Ngaakaara was a son of Tinokura, the first Rongomatane,[1] and a grandson of Te Ruaautu, who had first united Atiu.[2] When an Atiuan chief was killed by a chief from Mauke, he sailed to Mauke with a fleet of eighty war canoes. The Mauke people fled, but were dragged from their hiding places and forced to dig earth ovens, before being killed, dismembered, cooked, and eaten.[3] Ngaakaara then returned to Atiu, leaving one of his own men, Tararo, in charge. When Tararo was overthrown, Ngaakaara returned and again killed, cooked and ate the rebels, though this time women and children were spared.[3][4] Between these two expeditions he had also conquered Mitiaro in another raid, and subsequently the ariki of both islands were subordinate to those of Atiu.[3]
Rongomatane Ngaakaara greeted John Williams' ship when it arrived at Atiu.[5] After discussion with Tamatoa Ariki of Aitutaki, who was accompanying Williams, he converted to Christianity and agreed to destroy Atiu's religious symbols.[6] He then accompanied Williams to Mauke and Mitiaro and enforced similar changes there.[6] After returning to Atiu, he showed Williams the course to take to Rarotonga.[5][6]
After his death the Rongomatane title passed to Mana Rongomatane.[7]
References edit
- ^ G. F. Russell (1957). "Rongomatane Ariki VI: historical ceremony at Atiu Island". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 66 (2): 167. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ Alphons M.J. Kloosterman (1976). Discoverers of the Cook Islands and the Names they Gave. Cook Islands Library and Museum. p. 14. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ a b c J. T. Large (1913). "Some notes on Atiu Island, Cook Group, South Pacific". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 22 (86): 68–69. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ Kloosterman (1976), p. 25.
- ^ a b Paiere Mokoroa (1984). "Raukaanga Puapinga: Achievements throughout history". In Vainerere Tangatapoto (ed.). Atiu: An Island Community. Suva: Institute of Pacific Studies. p. 12.
- ^ a b c Large (1913), p. 74.
- ^ "Atiu title dates back many centuries". Cook Islands News. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2021.