IWI / HAPU AFFILIATIONS
Tracing his descent to the Mahuhu waka, Te Hira Te
Kawau was a high-born chief of Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), who took
part in many land sales with the Crown.
Te Hira Te Kawau lived most of his life at Okahu and was a rangatira of Ngāti Whatua.
His father was Apihai Te Kawau, who signed the Treaty of
Waitangi on 20 March 1840 at Orakei,1 and his mother was Kirepiro of
Te Taou.
Te Hira is known mostly for his forming part of a small group of
chiefs, including his father Apihai and his cousin Paora Tuhaere,
described as 'leaders of the dominant groups within Ngati
Whatua … [who] had the mana to decide what happened to most
of the Ngati Whatua lands during these years'.2 Upon the death of his father,
the mantle of paramount chief of Ngāti Whatua went to Paora
Tuhaere.3
Lindauer painted both Te Hira and Tuhaere, inscribing the reverse of Te
Hira's portrait, 'Chief Hira te Kawau G Lindauer pinx 1874'.
Te Hira wrote his name in the artist's notebook, one of the few
remaining examples of his handwriting. The page is headed up
'For Mr Partridge' and appears as number 17, 'Hiroto te Kawau'.4 In addition, the portrait was
one of those sent to the St Louis World's Fair in St Louis,
Missouri in 1904.5
CM
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Contributed story - Te Hira Te Kawau
contributed by
Stella James on
17 July 2012
I have a letter written by my aunt, my mother's eldest sister,
Violet Harwood, nee Wilkins, in which she says that Te Kawau te
Hira was a brother to Te Whakaawa (my great great
grandmother). Sarah te Whakaawa married William Nicholls on
Matakana Island. Their children included my
great-grandmother, Hariate (Charlotte) Smallman who married
John Guilding, Joseph Harris Smallman and Alfred Stack. My
grandmother was Lilian Matilda Smallman/Stack. If any one
knows more about my history I would be delighted to speak with
them.
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