IWI / HAPU AFFILIATIONS
Tomika Te Mutu was the paramount chief of the Ngāiterangi and
Ngāi Tuwhiwhia people of Tauranga Moana, whose traditional tribal
areas extended out from Tauranga to include Matakana and Motuhoa,
around Mauao and Katikati-Athenree.1
Tomika Te Mutu lived on Motuhoa Island and died at Rangiwaea
Island in 1867. One of the earliest known images of Te Mutu was
made at the 1860 gathering of Māori chiefs at Kohimarama in
Auckland, taken by photographer John Crombie which was later
displayed at the International London Exhibition in 1862.
Early portraits of Māori tended to focus on important people and
leaders of the time and these images quickly became a staple for
tourists, the commercial sector and ethnographic collectors. Māori
too adapted to their image being taken and often sought out artists
with good reputations.
Lindauer painted several versions of Tomika Te Mutu.
NM
Tukua mai āu nā kōreroSubmit your storyTāhuhu kōrero
Contributed stories
Do you have a story related to this portrait? Maybe you have images of this person? If you would like to see your story published on this website, please submit it here. All stories are reviewed before publishing.