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
112Sheet 8 — The Cook Strait (Henry Williams) SheetHiangarereHiangarereTe Āti AwaWaikanae 16 May 1840

Hiangarere signed the Cook Strait (Henry Williams) sheet of the Treaty of Waitangi at Waikanae on 16 May 1840. He was from the Te Āti Awa iwi (tribe).

Hiangarere is thought to have been the first person in New Zealand to be operated on while under a general anaesthetic On 27 September 1847 Dr Fitzgerald removed a tumour from between his shoulders at the Native Hospital in Wellington after administering ether through a device constructed from descriptions in English newspapers. On his return to Waikanae Hiangarere is said to have lectured his people about their health, throwing away rotten karaka berries that a boy was about to eat. 


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shirley perriton

Posted: 02 Jun 2016

Hiangarere had a son called Wi Tamihana Te Neke left no issue. When he died November 1885 his wife and her brother claimed succession at first. However In the land court 26th March 1888 page 153 Ruakere appeared. His fathers niece, Mata Pekamu (Mata Pekainui Tuhiata), who had married Captain George Ashdown finally succeeded him through his sister Tama Tuhiata. I am a direct desscendent of Mata Pekainui or Pekamu as we know her name, who was the wife of George Ashdown. Some of this information is in the Nga Tupuna. Look up Wiremu Tamihana Te Neke died 1885. He signed the Treaty of Waitangi 15th May 1840. Died Nov 1885