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

SignatureSheetSigned asProbable nameTribeHapūSigning Occasion
55Sheet 8 — The Cook Strait (Henry Williams) SheetPotikiWiremu Pōtiki? Pūtiki?Queen Charlotte Sound 4-5 May 1840

Pōtiki signed Te Tiriti at Queen Charlotte Sound on 5 May 1840. The identity of this signatory is uncertain. It could be Wiremu Pōtiki, a rangatira of Ngāi Tahu and Waitaha. Alternatively, it could be Pūtiki, a Te Āti Awa rangatira.

Many of the signatories on Te Tiriti were known by several names, or their names were written down with unusual spelling, which can make identifying them difficult

If you have more information about this treaty signatory please add a community contribution below or contact us at [email protected].

Community contributions

2 comments have been posted about Wiremu Pōtiki? Pūtiki?

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Jamie M

Posted: 20 Mar 2018

Kia ora Bill - thanks for your community contribution.

This explanation from the He Tohu exhibition may clarify the use of 'probable' - it is often extremely difficult to be certain of which person belongs to which signature:

55 Potiki | Full name Wiremu Pōtiki? Pūtiki? Pōtiki signed Te Tiriti at Queen Charlotte Sound on 5 May 1840. The identity of this signatory is uncertain. It could be Wiremu Pōtiki, a rangatira of Ngāi Tahu and Waitaha. Alternatively, it could be Pūtiki, a Te Āti Awa rangatira. Many of the signatories on Te Tiriti were known by several names, or their names were written down with unusual spelling, which can make identifying them difficult.

Ngā mihi Jamie

Bill Dacker

Posted: 28 Feb 2018

I would like to see the sources of the information in this hsitory - that is the identification of Potiki as Wiremu Potiki. In the south some have thought it possible that these are the same people while other s have felt it not true. The article has probable in it - why?

Other notable mistakes have been made in this area of Treaty signatories? There is a clear need among descendents of Wiremu Potiki to have it cleatly known why probable is probable or only probable.