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Te Hiko-o-te-rangi

Nga Tohu

In 1840 more than 500 chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document. Ngā Tohu, when complete, will contain a biographical sketch of each signatory.

Signing

Signature Sheet Signed as Probable name Tribe Hapū Signing Occasion
2 Sheet 8 — The Cook Strait (Henry Williams) Sheet Te Hiko-o-te-rangi Te Hiko-o-te-rangi Ngāti Toa, Te Āti Awa Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Te Maunu Port Nicholson, 29 April 1840

Te Hiko-o-te-rangi signed Te Tiriti at Port Nicholson on 29 April 1840. He was the son of Te Pēhi Kupe of Ngāti Toa and his wife Tiaia. 

In 1840 he was living at the pā of Te Rangihaeata on Mana Island. According to descendants, he was a frequent traveller, often visiting Queen Charlotte Sound, where he held significant mana. As both a Ngāti Toa and Te Āti Awa chief, like his father, Te Hiko-o-te-rangi held mana amongst both Kāwhia and northern Taranaki tribes, according to one historian. 

Te Hiko died in Thorndon hospital in 1849 – one of his last requests was to be taken there.

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