Tinomana Mereana Ariki
Encyclopedia
Tinomana Mereana Ariki was a sovereign of the Cook Islands
. She was the ariki
(queen) of the Tinomana dynasty, a chiefdom
of the Puaikura tribe on the island of Rarotonga
.
sea captain, Thomas Dunnett. She had five children, but all died before her without issue.
"During the last few days friction has arisen amongst the kopu-ariki or ariki family as to who, should succeed to the title. They were advised to hold a family meeting, and select one 1 of their number to fill the office. The Ngati Tauei (Napa family) and Ngati Pepeia (Papehia family) held a family council, as advised, and invited the other family named Take (Tuoro family) to take part. They refused, and allied themselves with the Mataiapos in hopes of one of their number being elected. The Ngati-Tauei and Ngati-Pepeia decided upon Napa as their candidate, and submitted his name for the approval of the Governor of New Zealand, for, according to regulations dealing with these matters, the election of arikis, kavanas, and mataiapos must now have the approval of His Excellency. On the other hand, the mataiapos, without referring the matter to the authorities, forthwith elected and anointed their ariki, choosing a young man named Tuoro, from the Take family, thus by their action refusing to recognise the 'right of the Governor to approve of the ariki elected, at the same time disregarding the ancient custom that had been observed for hundreds of years, which was that, in the event of electing an ariki for either the district, or avarua, or arorangi, the approval of Pa Ariki and Kainuku Ariki had first to be obtained before the ceremony of anointing and installation could take place."
Finally she was succeeded by Tinomana Napa II.
church
, built in 1849, is the old residence of Mereana, Tinomana Palace
, built for the Tinomana Ariki by the British
. The traditional name of the Palace is Au Maru, meaning "The Peace Brought by Christianity".
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
. She was the ariki
Ariki
An Ariki , ‘Ariki , Aliki , Ali‘i , Ari'i or ‘Eiki is or was a member of a hereditary chiefly or noble rank in Polynesia.-Aotearoa Ariki:Political leadership or governance in Māori society has traditionally come from two...
(queen) of the Tinomana dynasty, a chiefdom
Chiefdom
A chiefdom is a political economy that organizes regional populations through a hierarchy of the chief.In anthropological theory, one model of human social development rooted in ideas of cultural evolution describes a chiefdom as a form of social organization more complex than a tribe or a band...
of the Puaikura tribe on the island of Rarotonga
Rarotonga
Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 , out of the country's total population of 19,569.The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga...
.
Life
Tinomana Mereana was the younger daughter of Tinomana Teariki Tapurangi (also known as Setepano). She succeeded her brother Tinomana Makea Tamuera to the title of ariki after his death in 1881. She married Anglo-American John Mortimer Salmon, a grandson of a RamsgateRamsgate
Ramsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque Ports. It has a population of around 40,000. Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline and its main...
sea captain, Thomas Dunnett. She had five children, but all died before her without issue.
Succession dispute
After her death, the title was disputed between the three historic lines of the Tinomana family (Ngati Papehia - Ngati Napa - Ngati Tuoro), each line descending from one the three wives of Tinomana Enuarurutini Ariki (ca. 1780-1854)."During the last few days friction has arisen amongst the kopu-ariki or ariki family as to who, should succeed to the title. They were advised to hold a family meeting, and select one 1 of their number to fill the office. The Ngati Tauei (Napa family) and Ngati Pepeia (Papehia family) held a family council, as advised, and invited the other family named Take (Tuoro family) to take part. They refused, and allied themselves with the Mataiapos in hopes of one of their number being elected. The Ngati-Tauei and Ngati-Pepeia decided upon Napa as their candidate, and submitted his name for the approval of the Governor of New Zealand, for, according to regulations dealing with these matters, the election of arikis, kavanas, and mataiapos must now have the approval of His Excellency. On the other hand, the mataiapos, without referring the matter to the authorities, forthwith elected and anointed their ariki, choosing a young man named Tuoro, from the Take family, thus by their action refusing to recognise the 'right of the Governor to approve of the ariki elected, at the same time disregarding the ancient custom that had been observed for hundreds of years, which was that, in the event of electing an ariki for either the district, or avarua, or arorangi, the approval of Pa Ariki and Kainuku Ariki had first to be obtained before the ceremony of anointing and installation could take place."
Finally she was succeeded by Tinomana Napa II.
Tinomana Palace
Near to the ArorangiArorangi
Arorangi is one of the five districts that make up the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. It is located in the west of the island, to the northwest of the district of Titikaveka, and southwest of the district of Avarua....
church
Cook Islands Christian Church
The Cook Islands Christian Church is the largest religious denomination in the Cook Islands. The CICC is a Christian Congregationalist church and has approximately 18,000 members, including 56% of the residents of the Cook Islands...
, built in 1849, is the old residence of Mereana, Tinomana Palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
, built for the Tinomana Ariki by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The traditional name of the Palace is Au Maru, meaning "The Peace Brought by Christianity".
External links
- Tinomana Ariki - Speedylook Encyclopedia
- Female Head of State of the Cook Islands
- Collections Online - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (photographs)
- Arorangi Church yard, Tinomana's Palace behind - Auckland University Library
Sources
- Grimshaw, Beatrice Ethel. In the strange South seas, (Ayer Publishing, 1908) ISBN 0836987640
- Hunt, Errol. Rarotonga & the Cook Islands, (Lonely Planet, 2003) ISBN 174059083X
- The Right Hon. R.J. Seddon's (the premier of New Zealand) visit to Tonga, Fiji, Savage Island, and the Cook Islands: May, 1900, (J. Mackay, 1900)