The Forgotten Prophet: Tmati Te Ito and his Kaingrara Movement

(Paperback)

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Tmati Te Ito Ngmoke, a renowned Taranaki prophet, played a significant role in colonial New Zealands political landscape. While some, including most settlers and officials, viewed him as an imposter, a wizard, a fanatic; others, including major Taranaki tribal leaders, revered him as a prophetic tohunga matakite known as Te Kai-ngrara The Reptile Eater. Today, overshadowed by religious leaders like Te Ua Haumne and Te Whiti o Rongomai, Te Itos historical importance remains largely unrecognised. This book uncovers his story and impact on Aotearoas history. In 1856 Te Ito led the Kaingrara movement, seeking the fulfilment of the divine order in Taranaki when tapu would finally be defeated. Initiating the Taranaki iconoclasm, his followers built huge bonfires in New Plymouth and settlements to the south into which treasures, carvings and other tapu objects that had been associated with atua (ancestral spirits) were thrown. The movement established a school and court system and contemplated a religious community before the first Taranaki war erupted in 1860. As the visionary advisor to Te tiawa chief Wiremu Kngi Te Rangitke, Te Ito played a crucial role in the lead-up to the conflict, later orchestrating fires that displaced settlers. Perceived as a rival to Parihaka prophets Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kkahi in the late 1860s1870s, Te Ito eventually joined Parihaka in 1872 as a respected leader under Te Whiti and Tohus mana. Jeffrey Sissons remarkable account, based on extensive research, offers a fresh perspective on New Zealands past by illuminating the life and contributions of a key religious leader previously unacknowledged.

Author Bio

Jeffrey Sissons, a prominent anthropological researcher and writer in Aotearoa New Zealand, recently retired as an Associate Professor in the Cultural Anthropology Programme at Te Herenga Waka / Victoria University of Wellington. Sissons extensive research encompasses colonialism, cultural change, and the cultural history of Mori and the Cook Islands. He has authored five books and numerous journal articles.