Wiremu Hau

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
13Sheet 1 — The Waitangi SheetWiremu HauWiremu HauNgāpuhiNgāti Te Whiu, Ngāti Pou, Ngāti MiruWaitangi 6 February 1840

Wiremu Hau was a rangatira (chief) at Waimate in the Bay of Islands. He signed the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February 1840 at Waitangi.

Hau was baptised in the early 1830s. On 13 July 1844 he wrote to chiefs inviting them to Waimate to discuss the behaviour of Ngāpuhi chief Hōne Heke Pōkai, whose men had recently looted Kororāreka and cut down the flagstaff on Maiki Hill. During the subsequent Northern War, Hau fought alongside the British at Ōhaeawai in July 1845.

Hau attended the 1860 conference of Māori leaders at Kohimarama organised by Governor Thomas Gore Browne. In 1863 he sent a letter to Governor George Grey asserting that Ngāpuhi had no interest in the fighting in Waikato and Taranaki. He later became an assessor in the Native Land Court.

In 1874 Hau and his son Hamiora were two of the leading chiefs present when the superintendent of Auckland province visited Mangōnui. According to a newspaper report, Hau was believed to be one of the oldest chiefs in New Zealand at this time.


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

Community contributions

7 comments have been posted about Wiremu Hau

What do you know?

Can you tell us more about the information on this page? Perhaps you have a related experience you would like to share?

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Comments will be reviewed prior to posting. Not all comments posted. Tell me more...

Lorraine Martin

Posted: 21 Feb 2024

Uri of Wiremu Hau are about to commence some research about our tupuna Mr Wiremu Hau. Anyone who has any information about our tupuna please contact us. [email protected]. Much appreciated.

N.R.Martin

Posted: 10 Apr 2021

Kia ora if anyone has made progress, or needs help. There's also a site, with the whole whakapapa of the Hau line. I'm waiting to be added. My grandfather is the Hau connection. I'm still learning too. Just putting it out there. So we can be acknowledged.
[email protected]

Pat Nepia

Posted: 10 Aug 2019

Kia ora Mike, we now have a copy of that sketch at the Hi Chap, homestead.

Anonymous

Posted: 05 Mar 2018

michael, i remember reading some waitangi tribunal evidence from one of the whanau and there was even an image, a pencil sketch i believe of the man himself.

Micheal hau

Posted: 01 Jun 2016

this is my great great great grand father direct bloodline if anybody has information be appreciated chur

Helen Muraahi

Posted: 24 Mar 2015

Kia Ora, I'm doing some whakapapa research on Wiremu Hau. It is believed that I am a direct descendant of his. My Grandfather was Matiu Howe. His father was Haare Hau, his grandfather was Hamiora Hau, Wiremu Hau son.. Thank you for the information. I hope I can find out more about my whanau.