 The King could not forget that Te Kooti had earlier challenged his leadership of Māori living in King Country.Gilbert Mair had been given the job of establishing good relationships with the Kingites and he observed firsthand the frosty relationship between te Kooti and Tāwhiao, with the King refusing to acknowledge te Kooti's presence or eat with him.In 1883 the government pardoned Te Kooti on the condition he refrained from warlike activities.