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
123Sheet 1 — The Waitangi SheetTaonuiMakoare Te TaonuiNgāpuhiTe PopotoMangungu 12 February 1840

Makoare Te Taonui signed the Waitangi sheet of the Treaty of Waitangi on 12 February 1840 at Mangungu, Hokianga. He was a rangatira (chief) from the Te Popoto hapū (subtribe) of Ngāpuhi.

Taonui met Anglican missionary Samuel Marsden in 1819 and later visited Sydney. Along with other northern chiefs, he signed a letter to King William IV in 1831, asking for protection from the French. In 1835 he signed the Declaration of Independence. During the Northern War of 1845–46 Taonui supported the Crown against Hōne Heke Pōkai.

Taonui is said to have spoken strongly against the Treaty of Waitangi: ‘We are not … willing to give up our land. It is from the earth we obtain all things. The land is our Father; the land is our chieftainship; we will not give it up.’ [1]

And later in the debate: ‘“Ha, ha, ha, this is the way you do,” cried Taonui. “First your Queen sends Missionaries to New Zealand to put things in order, gives them £200 a year. Then she sends Mr. Busby to put up a flag, and gives him £500 a year, and £200 to give to us natives. Now she sends a Governor.”

“Speak your own sentiments, not what bad men have told you,” retorted Captain Hobson.

“I do,” replied Taonui. “I have not been to Port Jackson, but I know Governors have salaries.”’ [2]

Later, after a confrontation between Governor William Hobson and Frederick Maning (a trader who lived in Hokianga), Taonui softened his stance.

“Lo, now for the first time my heart has come near to your thoughts. I approach you with my whole heart. You must watch over my children; let them sit under your protection. There is my land too; you must take care of it, but I do not wish to sell it. What of the land that is sold? Can my children sit down on it? Can they – eh?” [3]

Taonui died in September 1862.


[1] T. Lindsay Buick, The Treaty of Waitangi: or, how New Zealand became a British colony, Mackay, Wellington, 1914, p. 138

[2] The Treaty of Waitangi: or, how New Zealand became a British colony, pp. 138–9

[3] The Treaty of Waitangi: or, how New Zealand became a British colony, p. 141


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

Community contributions

5 comments have been posted about Makoare Te Taonui

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...

Anonymous

Posted: 20 Mar 2020

haki mamene also noted that when the government was considering taking land in response to the rebellion/resistance of heke and had its greedy eyes focused on the fertile land at taiamai, taonui makoare made it very clear that he would not allow it. he would die fighting for it and that it belonged to his ancestors

Anonymous

Posted: 20 Mar 2020

taonui told haki mamene that it is of little importance which side he takes during the northern war 1845 but haki mamene noted that taonui being a man of great consideration, would need to take time to make a decision especially due to the fact that he held heke in regard as being a whanaunga/relative.

Jamie M

Posted: 09 Mar 2018

The signatories for the Treaty sheets were gathered over several months in 1840, not just on 6 February

Anonymous

Posted: 22 Feb 2018

Why is the date stated as 12 February 1840? Did Makoare sign later than 06 /02/1840 or has an error been made in the above article?

Murray Painting

Posted: 28 Jul 2017

Te Taonui actually said " I do... have I not been to Port Jackson, I know governors have salaries