Tamihana was known as the king maker because of his role of
persuading Te Wherowhero to become the first Maori king with
the name Potatau in 1858. From that time Tamihana's descendant's
inherited the title and anointed successuve Maori kings.
After his rejection of tribal warfare in 1830's he was a determined
peace maker who did everything possible to avert the Waikato
conflict. Government magistrate John Gosrt noted that he was a
pleasant man to argue with. He heard patiently all you had to
say, took the greatest pains to find out exactly what you meant,
and replied calmly and always to the point. Tamihana has met
many statesmen in his long life but none more superior in the
intellect and character to this Maori chief whom many would
call savage. Tamihana passed away in 1866.
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