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For more than two months in 1840 Major Thomas Bunbury sailed around New Zealand obtaining signatures on the Treaty of Waitangi. His directions were to complete negotiations in North Island areas that had not been covered and to secure agreement in the South Island. It was during this trip that he proclaimed British sovereignty over the South Island – before he had finished getting the agreement of chiefs there to the Treaty. He obtained 27 signatures on the Maori-language copy of the document.
Bunbury left the Bay of Islands on HMS Herald on 28 April. A week later he met with chiefs at Coromandel Harbour. Some signed the Treaty but others felt that more time should be allowed for consultation and refused to sign. Two chiefs signed when the ship anchored off the Mercury Islands.
Bunbury's first stop in the South Island was at Akaroa on 28 May where two chiefs signed (on 30 May). Bad weather forced the ship to bypass Otago but at Ruapuke, an island in Foveaux Strait, three chiefs signed on 10 June. The Herald then returned up the east coast, sending a boat ashore in Otago Harbour where two chiefs signed. Another signing occurred at Guards Bay in Cloudy Bay on 17 June. Ngati Toa chief Nohorua insisted that his signature be witnessed by his son-in-law, whaler Joseph Thoms; according to Nohorua, should his grandchildren lose their land, their father might share the blame.
Having proclaimed sovereignty over the South Island on Horahorakakahu Island, Bunbury sailed for Kapiti, off the west coast of the North Island. Off Mana Island he found Te Rauparaha and insisted that he sign. Te Rauparaha assured Bunbury that he had already given his agreement to Henry Williams, but he signed Bunbury's copy on 19 June. After a brief call at the Tukituki River in Hawke's Bay, where Te Hapuku signed, Bunbury arrived back at the Bay of Islands on 2 July.
The Herald-Bunbury copy was probably made by translator Henry Kemp. It is on parchment and suffered severe damage from its later encounter with rats. The copy bears Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson's signature.
| Signed as | Probable name | Tribe | Hapu | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signed on 4 May 1840, at Coromandel harbour, witnessed by Joseph Nias and Thomas Bunbury | ||||
| 1. | Te Horeta te Taniwa | Te Horeta Te Taniwha | Ngati Whanaunga | Te Mateawa? |
| 2. | Kitahi | Kitahi [Te Taniwha] | Ngati Whanaunga, Ngati Paoa | Te Mateawa? |
| 3. | Puakanga | Puakanga | Ngati Whanaunga? | |
| 4. | Hauauru | Hauauru | Ngati Paoa, Ngati Whanaunga | |
|
Signed on 7 May 1840, on HMS Herald off Mercury Islands, witnessed by Joseph Nias |
||||
| 5. | Purahi | Purahi | Ngati Maru | from Mercury Bay? |
| 6. | Ngataiaepa | Nga Taiepa | Ngati Paoa | Te Rapupo |
|
Signed on 30 May 1840, at Akaroa, witnessed by Thomas Bunbury and Edward M Williams |
||||
| 7. | Iwikau | Iwikau | Ngai Tahu | Ngati Rangiamoa |
| 8. | John Love | John Love [Tikao] | Ngai Tahu | Ngai Te Kahukura, Ngai Tuahuriri |
|
Signed on 10 June 1840, on HMS Herald at Ruapuke, witnessed by Joseph Nias and Thomas Bunbury |
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| 9. | John Touwaick | Hone Tuhawaiki | Ngai Tahu, Ngati Mamoe | Ngati Ruahikihiki |
| 10. | Kaikoura | Kaikoura | Ngai Tahu | |
| 11. | Taiaroa/Tararoa | Tararoa? | Ngai Tahu? | |
|
Signed on 13 June 1840, at Otago Heads, witnessed by Thomas Bunbury and William Stewart |
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| 12. | John Karitai | Hone Karetai | Ngai Tahu | Ngati Ruahikihiki, Ngati Moki, Ngai Te Kahukura, Ngai Tuahuriri, Ngati Hinekura |
| 13. | Korako | Korako | Ngai Tahu | Ngai Tuahuriri, Ngati Huirapa |
|
Signed on 17 June 1840, at Guard's Bay, Cloudy Bay, witnessed by Thomas Bunbury, William Stewart and (for Nohorua) Joseph Thoms |
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| 14. | Maui Pu | Maui Pu | Ngati Toa? | |
| 15. | Eka Hare | Kahare/Hari? [Charley?] | Ngati Toa? | |
| 16. | Puke | Puke | Ngati Toa? | |
| 17. | Nohorua | Nohorua [Tom Street] | Ngati Toa | Ngati Kimihia? |
| 18. | Waiti | Waiti/Whaiti? | Ngati Toa? | |
| 19. | Te Wi | Te Whi | Ngati Toa? | |
| 20. | Te Kanai | Te Kanae | Ngati Toa? | Ngati Awhai-a-Te-Hau? |
| 21. | Pukeko | Pukeko | Ngati Toa? | from Porirua? |
| 22. | Kaikoura | Kaikoura | Ngati Toa? | |
|
Signed on 19 June 1840, off Mana Island, witnessed by Thomas Bunbury and William Stewart |
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| 23. | Te Rauparaha | Te Rauparaha | Ngati Toa | Ngati Koata, Ngati Rarua, Ngati Rakau, Ngati Kimihia |
| 24. | Rangihaeata | Te Rangihaeata | Ngati Toa | Ngati Kimihia, Ngati Te Maunu, Ngati Koata, Ngati Rarua, Ngati Rakau |
|
Signed on 24 June 1840, in Hawke's Bay, witnessed by Thomas Bunbury and Edward M. Williams |
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| 25. | Te Hapuku | Te Hapuku [Te Ikanui-o-te-moana] | Ngati Te Whatu-i- apiti, Ngati Kahungunu | Ngati Te Rangi-ko-ia-anake |
| 26. | Waikato | [Hoani] Waikato | Ngati Te Whatu-i-apiti , Ngati Kahungunu | |
| 27. | Mahikai | Mahikai [Harawira] | Ngati Kahungunu | |
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