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.
| Signature | Sheet | Signed as | Probable name | Tribe | Hapū | Signing Occasion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | Sheet 8 — The Cook Strait (Henry Williams) Sheet | Te Uapiki | Hoani Ropiha Te Uapiki | Te Āti Awa | Queen Charlotte Sound, 4-5 May 1840 |
Te Uapiki signed Te Tiriti at Queen Charlotte Sound on 5 May 1840. In 1834 he led a 400-strong force against Ngāti Raukawa in the battle at Haowhenua pā near Ōtaki.
The baptismal name he adopted, Hoani Ropiha (John Hobbs), suggests that he may have been baptised as a Wesleyan (Methodist).
If you have more information about this treaty signatory please add a community contribution below or contact us at [email protected].