http://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz ResearchSpace@Auckland Copyright Statement The digital copy of this thesis is protected by the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). This thesis may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: • Any use you make of these documents or images must be for research or private study purposes only, and you may not make them available to any other person. • Authors control the copyright of their thesis. You will recognise the author's right to be identified as the author of this thesis, and due acknowledgement will be made to the author where appropriate. • You will obtain the author's permission before publishing any material from their thesis. To request permissions please use the Feedback form on our webpage. http://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/feedback General copyright and disclaimer In addition to the above conditions, authors give their consent for the digital copy of their work to be used subject to the conditions specified on the Library Thesis Consent Form and Deposit Licence. The Changing Roles of the Polynesian Paramount Chief by Falaniko Tominiko A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Pacific Studies, University of Auckland i DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY ********** I, Falaniko Tominiko, declare that this thesis is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge, it contains no material previously published, or substantially overlapping with material submitted for the award of any other degree at any institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the text. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ********** First and foremost, I would like to extend a big thank you to the five Paramount Chiefs who sacrificed their precious time to be able to contribute to my research: Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Taisi Efi, Tu’vakan ō Siale’ataongo Kaho Pa Tepaeru Teariki Upokotini Marie Ariki Roko Tui Bau, Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi Sir Tumu Te Heuheu Tukino VIII I am truly indebted to you all! Fa’afetai Lava, Malo Aupito, Meitaki Ma’ata, Vinaka Vaka Levu, Kia Ora ___ To my supervisors, Misatauveve Dr. Melani Anae, Dr. Sitiveni Ratuva, and Associate Professor Hugh Laracy, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for believing in me, even when I did not believe in myself. I would not have completed this without your support and persistence. Thank you. ___ Thank you to Associate Professor Toe’olesulusulu Damon Salesa - Director of Centre for Pacific Studies, Walter Fraser (former Director) and all the staff of the Centre for Pacific Studies, for your support and help over the course of my studies. ___ Thank you to the University of Auckland and to The Atu Trust for the scholarships that I received. Your generous financial support has been truly appreciated and without it, this research would not have happened. ___ Thank you to all those who have advised me throughout the years, Mr Jim Peters, Mr Maui Hudson, Associate Professor Peggy Dunlop, Mrs Linda Aumua, Mr Vavao Fetui, Dr Melenaite Taumoefolau, Dr Fotu Fisi’ahi, Dr Jemaima Tiatia, Dr Kabini Saga, Dr Teresia Teaiwa, Dr Cherie Chu, Dr Sione Vaka ___ Last, but not least, I thank my entire family for their support and help throughout my studying life. I would not have achieved any of this without your love and support. ___ Finally, I dedicate this thesis to my three chiefs in heaven, my grandfathers: Sitagata Falaniko Tominiko, So’oalo Peter Godinet, and Tagaloa Henry Godinet. iii ABSTRACT ********** This thesis looks at chiefly Polynesian leadership in the 21 st century. Since 2006, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands and Aotearoa have each experienced the loss of prominent chiefly leaders . In each of the cases, new leaders have risen to take the places of the recently departed ones. In a world that is constantly changing, the chiefly systems of each of the five island nations are also riding the same wave of change. This thesis explores and discusses these changes and endeavours to unravel how the present day chiefs and the chiefly systems, have been affected and influenced by such changes. It also looks at and discusses characteristics and features of chiefly leadership, and compares them throughout various stages of Polynesian history. The chronological structure of the thesis provides a brief history of Polynesian chiefs starting at pre-Christian time, through to post-contact and independence, right up to the present. Examples and narratives of historical events are used throughout the thesis to both illustrate and support various issues and topics being discussed Finally, the thesis is a collection of voices of present day Polynesian chiefs. Insights, experiences and personal opinions of current Polynesian leaders have been recorded and carefully woven into this thesis. The chiefly stories and narratives provide strands of first- hand knowledge which are woven together with strands of academic literature knowledge to create the kete or basket of knowledge that is this thesis. iv CONTENTS ********** ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii ABSTRACT iii GLOSSARY vii INTRODUCTION 1 Chapter Outline 3 Claim to Originality 8 Polynesian Islands 9 Rationale 11 Thesis Style 18 Methods & Methodology 26 PART 1: THEORIES CHAPTER 1: Understanding Leadership & Status Introduction 34 1.0 Defining Leadership 35 2.0 Leadership and Society 43 3.0 Principles of Polynesian Status 47 Summary 59 CHAPTER 2: Current Understandings of the Polynesian Chief Introduction 62 1.0 The Polynesian Chief 63 2.0 Chiefly Classes 78 3.0 Chiefly Authority 81 Summary 87 v PART 2: EVOLUTION CHAPTER 3: From Ancient to Pre-Contact Chiefs Introduction 92 1.0 Chiefly Forms 93 2.0 Chiefly Women & Children 103 3.0 The Chiefly Landscape 115 4.0 Chiefly Limitations 133 Summary 137 CHAPTER 4: From Ancient to Pre-Contact Chiefs Introduction 143 1.0 Christianity 144 2.0 Chiefly Laws 147 3.0 Polynesian Monarchies 152 4.0 Colonisation 155 5.0 Chiefly Councils 160 6.0 Chiefly Retaliation 165 7.0 Independence and Politics 167 8.0 Decline of the Political Chief 171 Summary 175 CHAPTER 5: The Present Day Chief Introduction 179 1.0 Early Life 180 2.0 Chiefly Leadership 194 3.0 Challenges 203 4.0 Changes 205 5.0 Politics 209 Summary 211 vi PART 3: PROGRESSION CHAPTER 6: Chiefly Succession Introduction 218 1.0 Sibling Rivalry 218 2.0 Succession 221 Summary 241 PART 4: IDENTITIES CHAPTER 7: Chiefly Profiles 1.1.0 Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Taisi Efi 247 1.2.0 Tu’ivakan ō Siale’ataongo Kaho 251 1.3.0 Pa Tepaeru Teariki Upokotini Marie Peyroux 254 1.4.0 Roko Tui Bau, Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi 256 1.5.0 Sir Tumu Te Heuheu Tukina VIII 259 2.1.0 Samoa Chiefly Titles 263 2.2.0 Tonga Chiefly Titles 266 2.3.0 Fiji Chiefly Titles 269 2.4.0 Aotearoa Chiefly Titles 270 2.5.0 Cook Islands Chiefly Titles 271 PART 5: SUMMARY CHAPTER 8: Conclusions 273 APPENDIX Appendix 1 – Current Paramount Chiefs 296 Appendix 2 – Chiefly Genealogies 300 Appendix 3 – Notable Polynesian Chiefs 313 Bibliography 343 vii GLOSSARY ********** Āiga – Samoan for ‘family’. Used for both immediate and extended families. Ali’i – Samoan paramount or sacred chief Aotearoa - Maori name for New Zealand. Translated as ‘the land of the long white cloud’ Ariki – ‘chief’ (Maori & Cook Islands) Arikitanga – the Maori office/movement of ariki Atua – Pan Polynesian term for ‘God’ ‘Eiki – Tongan for ‘chief’ or ‘chiefly’ Fa’alavelave – Samoan ceremonies and important happenings. Literally means ‘interruptions’ Fa’alupega – list of Samoan village salutations Fa’amatai – Samoan chiefly system or literally ‘to be a chief’ Fa’atam āli’i – Samoan meaning ‘to be chiefly or like an ali’i Fahu – Tongan for ‘father’s sister’ Faife’au – Samoan church minister Faifekau – Tongan church minister Feagaiga – Samoan for ‘covenant’. Used to describe relationship between a brother and his sister Fefine – Tongan woman Fono – Tongan and Samoan for ‘meeting’ Ha’a – traditional Tongan polity or clan Hapu – Maori sub-tribe ‘I’oimata – Samoan for ‘eyeballs’ It ū M ālō – Samoan for ‘district’ Iwi – Maori tribe Kainga – Tongan family Kapu – Hawai’ian for ‘sacred’ Karakia – Maori prayer Kaumatua – Maori elder or senior person Kaupapa - Maori for ‘project’ or ‘work’ Koro – Fijian village Kuhuna – traditional Hawai’ian specialist or priest viii Mala – Samoan curse Mālō – Samoan for ‘government’ or ‘victory’ Mana – ‘power’ Maota – house of a Samoan ali’i chief Matai – Samoan titled person or chief Mata’iapo – Cook Island ‘sub-chief’ Mataqali – Fijian clan or ‘land-owning’ unit Mauri – A Maori spiritual essence Matapule – A Tongan orator-chief. Also referred to as a chief’s attendant Mehikitanga – Tongan for ‘father’s eldest sister’ Molumalu – Tongan for ‘sacred’ Motu – Maori and Samoan for ‘island’ Ngati – Cook Island for sub-district or Prefix before the name of a Maori tribe Nōpele – Tongan transliteration of ‘noble’ Nu’u – Samoan village Pa’ia – Samoan for ‘sacred’ Pakeh ā – Maori for European Pāpā – four ancient paramount titles of Samoa Pap ālagi – Samoan for European Poto – Samoan and Tongan for ‘intelligence’ Pounamu – Maori word for ‘green stone’. Pule – Samoan for ‘authority’ or ‘rule’ Pulenu’u – Samoan village mayor Rangatira – ‘chief’ of a lower status than ariki (Maori & Cook Islands) Ratu – prefix given to a chiefly Fijian man’s name Tabua – Fijian for ‘whale tooth’ Tahu’a – traditional Tahitian specialist or expert Talanoa – to speak, to discuss (Samoan & Tongan) Tama’ āiga – four paramount titles of Samoa Tapu – sacred or spiritual Taule’ale’a – an untitles Samoan man Tautua – Samoan