On 13 June, two Ngāi Tahu rangatira (chiefs) signed the Treaty of Waitangi at Otago Heads. The signatures of Hone Karetai and Kōrako were witnessed by Edward Williams, Thomas Bunbury and William Stewart. As Stewart was well known in the south and familiar with the local dialect, Bunbury relied on him to deal with the chiefs. [1]
Due to their late arrival, they gained only the signatures of chiefs who lived near the harbour entrance. They hoped to gain the signature of Taiaroa, but could not find him.
[1] Ross, 1987, pp. 186-8, in H. Evison, Te Wai Pounamu, 1993, p. 132