The Maori King's vision

Maori iwi in the Waikato and the middle of the North Island saw how powerful the British Queen (and the Royal family) were. They realised that the power of the British kingdom lay with the power of the Crown and the ability to gather resources to support their ambitions. From this idea to create their own Maori King came a movement called the Kingitanga.
King Potautau Te Wherowhero was made the first Maori King in 1858.

He had a 'vision' or a dream and told his people about it.

"towards the south there is a sacred mountain; below the shadow of the mountain there is a tree with a branch and on this branch are two birds of knowledge, Mumuhau and Takareto. These birds will receive the message from on high, and they will lead the people into everlasting life." 

Many of Te Whiti and Tohu's followers came to believe that 'the mountain' was Taranaki and the 'two birds of knowledge' that King Potautau saw in his vision were Te Whiti and Tohu. Like the two birds, Mumuhau and Takareto, they believed the two men would protect them and guide them to a new way of living.