
This photograph of Tainui–Waikato leader Te Kirihaehae Te Puea Herangi was taken about 1938. It shows her wearing the New Year's Honours medal she received in 1938, the Commander of the British Empire (CBE).
Te Puea was a staunch opponent of conscription for Waikato. She was guided by the words of her grandfather King Tawhiao. After he had finally made his peace with the Crown in 1881, he forbade Waikato to take up arms again:
Listen, listen, the sky above, the earth below, and all the people assembled here. The killing of men must stop; the destruction of land must stop. I shall bury my patu in the earth and it shall not rise again ... Waikato, lie down. Do not allow blood to flow from this time on.
Te Puea and others in the Waikato took this as an injunction never to fight again. Te Puea was also of the view that Waikato had 'its own King' and didn't need to 'fight for the British King'.
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand
Reference: PAColl-5584-58
Further information and copies of this image may be obtained from the Library through its Timeframes website.
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.
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How to cite this page: 'Te Puea Herangi', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/te-puea-herangi, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 30-Oct-2007
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