Te Kooti: 28th June 1868
Te Kooti and the Whakarau were exiled to Wharekauri for one year. Two years passed and they were still there. Of the 328 prisoners that landed on Wharekauri, 27 had already died from influenza and cold. Medicine and warm clothing was provided. However when ploughs and grinding stones arrived for the prisoners to grow wheat they knew there would be no end to their exile. The prisoners were also angered by the news that land was being confiscated in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa as punishment for their rebellion.
As a result on this day the 28th of June 1868, Te Kooti began to arrange to escape from Wharekauri and shared his prophecy: on a cloudy day, a rainbow would appear, two boats would arrive, and as a sign that departure was imminent, thunder would crash.
On the 4th of July this prophecy came true.
