IWI / HAPU AFFILIATIONS
Tracing his descent to the Mahuhu waka, Te Hira Te
Kawau was a high-born chief of Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), who took
part in many land sales with the Crown.
Te Hira Te Kawau lived most of his life at Okahu and was a rangatira of Ngāti Whatua.
His father was Apihai Te Kawau, who signed the Treaty of
Waitangi on 20 March 1840 at Orakei,1
and his mother was Kirepiro of Te Taou.
Te Hira is known mostly for his forming part of a small group of
chiefs, including his father Apihai and his cousin Paora Tuhaere,
described as 'leaders of the dominant groups within Ngati
Whatua … [who] had the mana to decide what happened to most
of the Ngati Whatua lands during these years'.2
Upon the death of his father, the mantle of paramount chief of
Ngāti Whatua went to Paora Tuhaere.3
Lindauer painted both Te Hira and Tuhaere, inscribing the reverse of Te
Hira's portrait, 'Chief Hira te Kawau G Lindauer pinx 1874'.
Te Hira wrote his name in the artist's notebook, one of the few
remaining examples of his handwriting. The page is headed up
'For Mr Partridge' and appears as number 17, 'Hiroto te Kawau'.4
In addition, the portrait was one of those sent to the St Louis
World's Fair in St Louis, Missouri in 1904.5
CM
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