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Neighbours at Puhoi River: A Cross-Cultural Dual Biography of Te Hemara Tauhia (1815-1891) and Martin Krippner (1817-1894) A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Waikato by ANNE EDDY 2017 i Dedication To Helga Dost née Klinger (1938 – 2014) A courageous woman who crossed many cultural boundaries and broke through the Iron Curtain. iii Abstract This thesis seeks to re-construct the biographies of two relatively obscure, yet fascinating and controversial players in the history of Aotearoa New Zealand. Both historical figures were initiators and leaders of neighbouring settlements: the rangatira, Te Hemara Tauhia (1815 – 1891), in his role as chief of the Te Kawerau/Ngāti Rongo hapū of the Ngāti Whātua iwi, re-occupying ancestral lands after living in captivity with Ngāpuhi, and the former Austrian captain, Martin Krippner (1817 – 1894), organiser of an Austrian-Bohemian settlement made possible under the Auckland Provincial Government land grant scheme. Despite their efforts for each community, both men were accused by their own people of misusing their positions for personal gains. Te Hemara Tauhia was blamed for selling off tribal lands to cover personal debts. Martin Krippner was never forgiven for promising his Bohemian compatriots a ‘land of milk and honey’ while leading them to near starvation and struggle within dense New Zealand bush, and subsequently into war in the Waikato where Krippner was commissioned captain in the Waikato Militia. Focussing on three main objectives, this cross-cultural dual biography provides an original contribution to historical scholarship: Firstly, it looks behind the myths that have been created around Te Hemara Tauhia and Martin Krippner; it thoroughly examines what both men did and how social, economic and political circumstances influenced their motivations and choices at that particular time. Secondly, placing Tauhia’s and Krippner’s biographies side-by-side provides a novel view of a range of historical phenomena from both Tangata Whenua (indigenous peoples) and European settlers (Pākehā) perspectives. Looking at the same events from different angles and perspectives, a cross-cultural, dual biography can act like a prismatic tool, revealing the complexity of a shared history. The third aim of this research encompasses my intention to contribute to and to participate in a dialogue between ethnic groups in Aotearoa New Zealand, especially between Māori and Pākehā, in order to challenge stereotypes and generalisations based on lack of knowledge of historical and cultural contexts. v Acknowledgments First of all, I wish to thank the many people who shared with me their knowledge about the history of Te Kawerau/Ngāti Rongo and the Bohemian settlers of Puhoi and Ohaupo during conversational interviews and e-mail communication. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity of meeting Herewaka Nick Rata and Gregory Wenzlick before they passed away in 2014. I thank Dr Stephen Schollum for exchanging ideas and research findings while consuming many cups of coffee on campus at the University of Waikato, and I will never forget the hospitality and fun conversations with Christine Krippner and Marian Stuart. I am indebted to Richard Nahi and Margaret Kawharu who found time in their busy schedules to meet with me and discuss aspects of Ngāti Whātua history. I would like to thank Jenny Schollum and Norman Golding for sharing Puhoi’s stories and providing access to documents held at the Puhoi Museum. A special Danke schön! (thank you) goes to Birte Melius, who travelled hundreds of kilometres to meet with me in Dresden, sharing copies of historical documents stored in her uncle’s box of memories. I also wish to thank my former kaiako (teachers), Haupai Puke and Dr Tom Roa, for talking about the relationships between their tūpuna (ancestors) and the Bohemian immigrants. Without the encouragement and continuous academic support provided by my thesis supervisors, Dr Rosalind McClean, Dr Raymond Richards and Dr Tom Ryan, this thesis would not have been possible. Especially, I wish to thank Dr Rosalind McClean for the many inspiring discussions relating to the research topic and beyond. I would like to thank the staff at the various archives and libraries, notably Dr Lenka Šínová at the Archive of Charles University in Prague, Petra Hofbauerová at the National Library of the Czech Republic, and Stefan Mach at the War Archive in Vienna, who helped retrieving documents in the often very short time available to me. I am grateful for the meeting with Stefan Dumont in Berlin where he shared the findings of his research about the Fortress of the German Confederation at Mainz. The University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship and the Merit Award for Doctoral Study granted by the Waikato Graduate Women Educational Trust have been essential to carrying out this research project. I would also like to thank the vi friendly staff at the Hamilton-East Work and Income service centre for facilitating financial support for my family. I am grateful to my friends Beate Jones, Trudi Zillkes and Claudia Bläsche, and my sister, Maria Dost, who all encouraged me in my research endeavour and listened patiently to my stories about Te Hemara Tauhia and Martin Krippner. Finally, I thank my parents for our last journey together in 2013, visiting the places of Martin Krippner’s childhood in Bohemia/Czech Republic. My mother died in the following year; this thesis is dedicated to her memory. ♦ ♦ ♦ vii Table of Contents CONTENTS Dedication .............................................................................................................. iii Abstract .................................................................................................................. v Acknowledgments ................................................................................................. vi Table of Contents ................................................................................................ viii List of Illustrations ................................................................................................ x Abbreviations ........................................................................................................ xi Notes ...................................................................................................................... xii 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Motives and Objectives for Writing this Thesis ........................................ 1 1.2 Previously Published Biographical Accounts of Te Hemara Tauhia and Martin Krippner ......................................................................................... 4 1.3 Cross-Cultural Dual Biography as History................................................ 9 1.4 Theoretical Perspectives and Methodological Overview ........................ 14 1.5 Primary Sources: A Description and Analysis of the Method ................ 18 1.6 Secondary Sources: An Overview ........................................................... 19 1.7 Structure of the Thesis ............................................................................. 23 2 Foundations – Whakapapa and Childhood ................................................... 27 2.1 Te Hemara Tauhia: Son of Rangatira Lineage ........................................ 28 2.2 Martin Krippner: Son of Peasant Serfs .................................................... 47 2.3 Summary.................................................................................................. 69 3 Unexpected Education ...................................................................................... 71 3.1 Te Hemara Tauhia: Among Enemies, Kin and Missionaries .................. 72 3.2 Martin Krippner: Between Monastery, Village and Metropolis ............. 88 3.3 Summary................................................................................................ 104 4 Seizing Opportunities ..................................................................................... 107 4.1 Te Hemara Tauhia: Return to Ancestral Lands ..................................... 108 4.2 Martin Krippner: Moving Slowly up the Ranks .................................... 125 4.3 Summary................................................................................................ 147 5 Dreams and Schemes ...................................................................................... 149 5.1 Te Hemara Tauhia: Consolidating Position in the Puhoi-Mahurangi Region.................................................................................................... 150 5.2 Martin Krippner – Adjutant with Emigration