Īhaka Takaanini

Īhaka or Ihaka Takaanini (1800–1864) was a chief of the Te Ākitai Waiohua tribe, which occupied lands in the southern region of Auckland. The South Auckland suburb of Takanini is named in his honour.

A prominent figure within the Auckland and Waikato regions, Takaanini played a large role in many land sales and peacemaking ventures throughout his lifetime, even working for the Crown as a land assessor. Despite his positive relationship with Pākehā, often being referred to as 'old Isaac', Takaanini, alongside 22 other iwi members, including his immediate family, was captured by the Crown and imprisoned at Ōtāhuhu, and later Rākino Island, during the invasion of the Waikato in 1863. Takaanini later died on Rākino Island some time in early 1864.

Takaanini was the great-grandson of Kiwi Tāmaki, a paramount chief of the Waiohua confederation, and the founding ancestor of Te Ākitai Waiohua. Kiwi Tāmaki held power over Tāmaki Makaurau prior to the permanent presence of Ngāti Whātua on the Auckland isthmus.

Biography

Family Te Ākitai Waiohua has a well documented patrilineal line of descent, and Takaanini's ancestors are well known. His father was Pepene Te Tihi, a Te Ākitai chief, and his mother was Puakikitehau. His grandfather was Rangimatoru, also a Te Ākitai chief. His great-grandfather was Kiwi Tāmaki, the founding ancestor of Te Ākitai Waiohua, and the paramount chief of the Waiohua confederation. Two of these children died while imprisoned at Camp Ōtahuhu, after being arrested by Crown officials due to Kingitanga affiliation in 1863. Their three surviving children were one daughter, named Erina Takaanini, and two sons, Īhaka Takaanini and Te Wirihana Takaanini, Te Wirihana succeeded his father as Te Ākitai Waiohua chief following Takaanini's death, and the South Auckland suburb of Wiri is named in his honour.

Crown employment Māori Hostel at Mechanics Bay, Auckland, around 1860. This hostel was supervised by Īhaka Takaanini. Takaanini was employed by the Crown as the Keeper of Native Hostelry in 1861,

Land sales Takaanini facilitated and participated in numerous land sales in the Auckland region, including:

Tāmaki Block, which involved multiple iwi. Between 1836 and 1839, this land was sold to Anglican missionaries. Takaanini's father Pepene Te Tihi, and fellow Te Ākitai chief Mohi te Ahi a te Ngu, were also involved in the sale. This sale, which was roughly 83,000 acres, was investigated by the newly established Land Claims Commission three times, in 1841, 1842, and 1847. Following the third investigation, 5,500 acres of land was given to the missionary, while the remaining 78,000 acres was retained by the Crown as "surplus land". Waimai Block, sold in January 1840. Located at Taotaoroa in the Manukau district, multiple chiefs also signed the deed of sale. A plot of around 2,000 acres, following a Land Claims Commission investigation in 1844, multiple settlers retained just over 1000 acres, while the remaining land was retained by the Crown as "surplus". Due to this connection, when Governor George Grey's proclamation was released in July 1863, calling for all Māori in the Manukau region to either swear an oath of loyalty to the Crown, or be evicted into the Waikato, Takaanini chose not to take the oath. These arrests were considered lawful due to the recent passing of the Suppression of Rebellion Act 1863, which allowed for indefinite imprisonment without trial for Māori suspected of disloyalty towards the Queen. As Takaanini had neither declared his loyalty to the Queen, nor fled to the Waikato, he and his relatives met these conditions. Ministers later admitted there was no actual legal basis for his imprisonment. From Drury they were moved to Camp Ōtahuhu, where two of Takaanini's children, both daughters, and his father Pepene Te Tihi, would die.

Rākino Island and death

In 1863, Takaanini and the other imprisoned Te Ākitai individuals were moved to Rākino Island, a small island in the Hauraki Gulf that was purchased by Governor George Grey in 1862. The date of Takaanini's death is unknown, but it was reported that he died on Rākino Island in early 1864, supposedly of homesickness and a broken heart.