The arrival of Captain James Cook 29 Nov-5 Dec 1769

The inhabitants of this Bay are far more numerous than at any other place we have yet been in and seem to live in friendship with one another although it doth not att all appear that they are untied under one head. They inhabited both the Islands and the main and have a number of Heppa’s [pa] or strongholds”. (*1)

Sydney Parkinson, Cook’s official artist on his First Voyage, sketched a portrait of the son of the chief of Rakaumangamanga. Parkinson called him ‘O te Goowgoow’, which probably translates as Te Kuukuu. The pen and wash portrait shows a unique form of facial moko sometimes called puhoro. The rei puta he wears around his neck is claimed to be in the British Museum in London and also the Hancock Museum in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The greenstone pendant in his ear includes human teeth, probably those of his parents and/or grandparents, and is currently in the British Museum in London. He would later be injured during a run-in between Cook and his men and some of the local Maori. (*2)

Anne Salmond in her book Two Worlds. First meetings between Maori and Europeans 1642-1772 maintains that Te Rawhiti was occupied by Ngati Wai at this time, “a tribal grouping that included Ngare Raumati” (p.220). She described how they all “were vying with each other for access to the rich resources of the bay and for political control” (p.220).

The Declaration of Independence 1835

Our tupuna Tenana signed the Declaration of Independence on 28 October 1835 at Waitangi. It is an international declaration that recognises the sovereignty of the Independent Tribes of Aotearoa, New Zealand and was witnessed by the Crown Resident. This was the forerunner of the Treaty of Waitangi. It has a flag to symbolise tribal rights to trade as independent nations, but has not been ratified into New Zealand law.

The Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi 1840

Rewiti Irikohe signed the Treaty on behalf of Ngati Kuta on 9-10 February 1840 at Waimate North.

If you have any interesting historical pieces to add to this History of Ngati Kuta, please contact Ngarino Ellis or Matutaera Clendon. Thank you.