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
9Sheet 8 — The Cook Strait (Henry Williams) SheetPorutuTe Rīrā PōrutuTe Āti AwaNgāti Hāmua, Pūhoromanga, Te MatehouPort Nicholson 29 April 1840

Te Rīrā Pōrutu signed Te Tiriti at Port Nicholson on 29 April 1840. He was the son of Tūhēhē and Te Whetū of Patukai. He and his wife Te Awa had four children: Īhāia, Hārata, Ihakara and Hēnare Piti Pōrutu.

Te Rīrā migrated from Taranaki to Te Whanganui-a-Tara in the 1830s. He had rights to Ōrangi Kaupapa reserve in Wellington and part of Pipitea pā. He mainly lived on the town acres he was granted on Tinakori Road, which he built a house on and cultivated until 1865.

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

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