Quote by Papahurihia: “Our power comes from the spirit realm, beyond what human eyes can see.”

This quote emphasizes the spiritual foundation of Māori strength and resilience, asserting that true power originates from intangible, divine sources rather than physical might or earthly authority. It offers a unique source of empowerment.

In a context where Māori military and political power were increasingly challenged by colonizers, Papahurihia’s teachings redirected focus to spiritual strength and the unseen forces of the indigenous cosmos, offering solace and defiance.

Māori tohupu (religious leader and prophet) active in northern New Zealand in the 1830s who founded the Pai Mārire precursor movement and blended Christian and traditional Māori beliefs into a new religious and political tradition. He was among the earliest Māori voices to articulate a theology of indigenous land sovereignty against European settlement.