Tauranga treaty copy

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The Tauranga copy of the treaty

Tauranga missionary Alfred Brown gathered 21 signatures on a Māori-language copy of the Treaty of Waitangi in April and May 1840. The copy has no seals, and it is thought that William Hobson’s signature is a forgery.

There was much fighting between tribes in Tauranga in early 1840, and Brown hesitated to discuss the treaty with local chiefs. Several missionaries gathered for a meeting on 10 April, and on that day or in the weeks following, 21 Tauranga chiefs signed this document. Major Thomas Bunbury arrived at Tauranga on 11 May to check on progress in gathering signatures. The going had been slow; Brown had an eye disease, and the presence of Roman Catholic Bishop Pompallier may not have been helpful.

Bunbury had missionary James Stack produce two more copies of the treaty. One was sent inland to Rotorua and Taupō, where Te Arawa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa refused to sign. This copy has since been lost. The second copy was given to James Fedarb to acquire signatures in Bay of Plenty.

Most of the treaty signings were witnessed by Europeans. The Tauranga signing was witnessed by Hoani Āneta, Brown’s mission assistant, who also signed the treaty. Alongside each name are the words ‘tana tohu’ (his mark or sign).

Follow links in this table to find out more about those who signed and the signing occasion.

Sheet 5 — The Tauranga Sheet
Sign ordersort ascending Signed as Probable Name Tribe Hapū Signing Occasion
21 Hoani Aneta Hoani Āneta Ngāi Te Rangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
20 Te haere roa Te Haereroa Ngāi Te Rangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
19 Kapa Kapa Ngāti Ranginui Ngāi Tamarāwaho Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
18 Te Peika Te Peika Ngāi Te Rangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
17 Te Mako Te Mako Ngāi Te Rangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
16 Pikitia Pikitia Ngāi Te Rangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
15 Putarahi Putarahi Ngāi Te Rangi Ngāti Hē Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
14 Te Pohoi Te Pōhoi Ngāi Te Rangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
13 Te Tutahi Te Tūtahi Ngāi Te Rangi Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāti Hē Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
12 Nuka Nuka Taipari Ngāi Te Rangi Ngāti Hē Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
11 Tanarumia Tanarumia Ngāi Te Rangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
10 Te Konikoni Te Konikoni Ngāi Te Rangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
9 Te matatahuna Te Matatāhuna Ngāi Te Rangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
8 Tari Tari Ngāi Te Rangi Ngāi Tūkairangi, Te Tāwera Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
7 Reko Reko Ngāi Te Rangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
6 Te Kou Te Kou-o-Rehua Ngāti Pūkenga Te Tāwera Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
5 Te paetui Te Paetui Ngāi Te Rangi Ngāi Tūkairangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
4 Te Hui Tīpene Te Hui Ngāi Te Rangi Te Whānau ā Tauwhao Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
3 Tamaiwhahia Tama-i-wāhia Ngāi Te Rangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
2 Huitao Huitao Ngāi Te Rangi Ngāi Tūkairangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840
1 Te Whanake Te Whanake Ngāi Te Rangi Ngāi Tūkairangi Tauranga, 10 April-May 1840