Te Tiriti: Te Whanganui-a-Tara, 29 April 1840

184 years ago, in early April 1840, Henry Williams arrived at Te Whanganui-a-Tara aboard the Ariel with sheet 8 of Te Tiriti to be signed by mana whenua. It took him 10 days to convince 34 Rangatira at 'Port Nicholson' to add their marks/signatures to the document.

Here are listed eight of the Rangatira and signatories who resided at Pipitea Pā: Te Rira Porutu, Tamati Te Matoha (Napuna), Wi Kingi Wairarapa, Te Ropiha Moturoa, Takata Ingo, Hohepa Kopiri, Reihana Reweti/Te Kamo, Te Kahu/Hone Te Iwikau/Matoha).

Te Wharepouri and Rawiri Matangi resided at Ngauranga; Ngatata-i-te-rangi at Kumutoto; Taringakuri, Te Whakakeko, Hore Pakihi - probably at Kaiwharawhara; Honiana Te Puni, Kopeka (Te Puni’s uncle), Rerewha-i-te-rangi (father of Honiana Te Puni), Pamariki Paaka at Pito One; Te Puakawe and Hirini Te Tute at Waiwhetū.

Eight or more local Rangatira eventually signed Sheet no. 8 at Queen Charlotte Sound and Manawatū. Te Manu Toheroa and Tu-te-rangi-pouri of Queen Charlotte Sound had close whānau links to Pipitea and Waiwhetū and Ngakirikiri was also closely associated with Waiwhetū Pā.

Wi Hape Pakau (Pipitea and Waiwhetū) signed the sheet at Manawatū.

Read more about local signatories:

The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography on Te Ara has biographies written in both English and Te Reo Māori of the following:

• Ngātata, Wiremu Tako
• Ngātata-i-te-rangi
• Te Kaeaea
• Te Puni-kōkopu, Hōniana

And over on our Ngā Tūpuna o Te Whanganui-a-Tara page, you can find biographies in English and Te Reo Māori of:

• Te Ropiha Moturoa
• Rawiri Matangi
• Hohepa Kopiri

Ngā Tūpuna o Te Whanganui-a-Tara

Ngā Tūpuna o Te Whanganui-a-Tara was a project begun in 2000 in association with Wellington Tenths Trust, that eventually resulted in four published volumes of biographies of tupuna living in Te Whanganui-a-Tara in 1840 (and onwards). So many mana whenua painstakingly guided and steered these books to fruition with their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm, and we'd like to acknowledge them and thank them for their permission to reproduce selected biographies online, including those above.

A small selection of books

Bridget Williams Books: Treaty of Waitangi Collection

Did you know that your library card gives you access to numerous collections from the award-winning New Zealand publisher Bridget Williams Books online? Today we’d like to draw your attention to their outstanding home for online resources regarding the Treaty of Waitangi.

You can find there online versions of a number of the titles listed above, always available for learning. Log in with your library card number and PIN to have a browse below:

Bridget Williams Books: Treaty of Waitangi Collection

Useful websites for future learning

Useful websites for further learning:

• Te Tiriti o Waitangi on Te Ara
• Te Tiriti on NZHistory.net — especially Treaty sheets and signing locations
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi workbook from the He Tohu exhibition at the National Library in Thorndon
• Te Tai Treaty Settlement Stories on Te Ara — A programme aimed at increasing understanding of the past by exploring Treaty settlements and their enduring impact
• Waitangi Tribunal
• Te Arawhiti | Office of Māori Crown Relations
• Te Haeata Settlement Portal
• Report of Matike Mai Aotearoa – The Independent Working Group on Constitutional Transformation - Network Waitangi Otautahi (nwo.org.nz)
• E-Tangata (search Te Tiriti)