Ngamaru Rongotini Ariki
| Ngamaru Rongotini Ariki | |
|---|---|
| High Chief of Atiu, Prince Consort of the Kingdom of Rarotonga | |
 Prince Ngamaru during Auckland visit (1885) | |
| Born | circa 1831 Areora, Atiu |
| Died | 31 March 1903 (aged 72) Avarua, Rarotonga |
| Spouse | Makea Takau Ariki |
| House | House of Te Akatuira |
| Dynasty | Ngamaru Dynasty |
Ngamaru Rongotini Ariki (c. 1831 – 31 March 1903) was a sovereign of the Cook Islands. He was the ariki of the Ngamaru dynasty on the island of Atiu, one of the chiefdoms of Ngaputoru, which consisted of three adjoining islands —Atiu, Mitiaro, and Mauke. In the 1860s he married Makea Takau, a princess of Rarotonga. In 1871 Makea Takau became ariki of Rarotonga and queen regnant of the newly established Kingdom of Rarotonga, as a consequence making Ngamaru prince consort of the realm of the united Cook Islands.
He was Representative of Atiu, Mitiaro and Mauke in the Federal Council and also a native Judge of the Ariki's Court at Avarua. Ngamaru was a man of strong personal character, and had the happy knack of settling troublesome matters with a jocular remark. He was also a commercial power to his people, being an inter-island trader with a schooner of his own.[1]
Prince Ngamaru died of blood poisoning after an injury to his hand, he was 72 years of age.[2] He was buried in Queen Makea's private graveyard at Para O Tane Palace.[3]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ "Shipping Notes". Auckland Star. October 3, 1902.
- ^ "The Cook Islands". Marlborough Express. April 18, 1903.
- ^ "Death of Ngamaru Ariki". Auckland Star. April 17, 1903.
References
[edit]- Grimshaw, Beatrice Ethel. In the strange South seas. Hutchinson & Co., 1907
- Gilson, Richard Philip. The Cook Islands, 1820-1950. Victoria University of Wellington, 1980; ISBN 0705507351
- Craig, Robert D. Historical Dictionary of Polynesia. Rowman & Littlefield, 2011. ISBN 0810867729; p. 154