Story: Te Whakatōhea

Mokomoko’s pardon, 1993

Wharehuia Milroy of Ngāi Tūhoe talks about the visit of the justice minister Doug Graham in 1993, to apologise to Te Whakatōhea and the descendants of Mokomoko. Mokomoko was wrongfully accused and hanged for the murder of the missionary, Carl Völkner, in 1865. Shown here is Hiona St Stephen’s Church, which was completed in 1864 for Völkner. He was buried beside the church. When the full pardon was given to Mokomoko, it was placed in the church for safe keeping and as a symbol of reconciliation between Māori and Pākehā.

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Photograph by Shirley Williams

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Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision (Mokomoko pardon/Reference number CDR3715)

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How to cite this page:

Ranginui Walker, 'Te Whakatōhea - From European contact to today', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/speech/390/mokomokos-pardon-1993 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Ranginui Walker, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Mar 2017