File:1916 Police Gazette - Rua Kēnana (26073606041).jpg

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On 2 April 1916 a large force of heavily armed police invaded Maungapōhatu in Te Urewera to arrest the Tūhoe leader and self-proclaimed prophet, Rua Kēnana.

At the outbreak of the First World War, Rua was accused of sedition because he held pacifist beliefs and actively discouraged his followers from enlisting. There were rumours that he openly supported Germany.

Rua’s staunch anti-war rhetoric offended the government. Liquor laws were used as a way to harass him, and he was arrested for selling illicit alcohol at Maungapōhatu. Rua refused to attend court, claiming he was busy with a harvest. This was viewed as contempt and a new warrant was issued for his arrest, which led to the events of 2 April.

Two Māori, including Rua’s son Toko, were shot and killed during the arrest. Rua was taken to Auckland for trial. His Supreme Court trial was one of the longest in New Zealand history, and he was found not guilty of sedition, but guilty of ‘morally’ resisting arrest. Rua was sentenced to one year’s hard labour followed by 18 months’ imprisonment. Eight of the jury later petitioned Parliament to have the sentence reduced.

The image above is from a page of the 1916 Police Gazette. It provides a description of Rua Kēnana and outlines the charges against him.

Archives reference: ACIS 17653 P12 37 / 50 (R17068674) www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=17068674

To enquire about this record please email Research.Archives@dia.govt.nz

For more information about Rua Kēnana's arrest, see NZHistory: www.nzhistory.net.nz/arrest-of-rua-kenana
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Source 1916 Police Gazette - Rua Kēnana
Author Archives New Zealand from New Zealand

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This image was originally posted to Flickr by Archives New Zealand at https://flickr.com/photos/35759981@N08/26073606041. It was reviewed on 8 September 2016 by FlickreviewR and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-sa-2.0.

8 September 2016

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current20:42, 8 September 2016Thumbnail for version as of 20:42, 8 September 20166,021 × 1,693 (4.64 MB)Vanished Account Byeznhpyxeuztibuo (talk | contribs)Transferred from Flickr via Flickr2Commons

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