Te Kātipa Te Awarahi

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
12Sheet 3 — The Waikato-Manukau SheetTe KatipaTe Kātipa Te AwarahiWaikatoNgāti Te Ata, Ngāti PouWaikato Heads Late March or early April 1840

Te Kātipa signed the Waikato-Manukau sheet of the Treaty of Waitangi in late March or early April 1840 at Waikato Heads, and again on 26 April at Manukau Harbour. In 1858 he played a part at the king-making ceremony at Ngāruawāhia, delivering a speech after Pōtatau had consented to be King. He also spoke at the Remuera Kīngitanga meeting. His son, Maihi Kātipa, was captured at the Battle of Rangiriri in November 1863, during the Waikato War.

In 1899 Te Kātipa was the kaihautū (helmsman) of the Paparata waka (canoe) at the Ngāruawāhia regatta. He was described as a ‘grizzled, gaunt old rangatira from Rangiriri, flourishing a fine “mere-pounamu” [greenstone club]’. [1]


[1] Auckland Star, 11 December 1899, p. 6


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Anonymous

Posted: 09 Jul 2022

Katipa did not marry Matire Toha, and therefore had no tamariki with each other. The claim that Kukutai and Maihi are their children is terrible. Matire married Katitakiwaru, the YOUNGER brother of Potatau Te Wherowhero. He was the one betrothed to Matire.Some say Katitakiwaru and Katipa were the same person, but this is WRONG. Katitakiwaru died in 1853, whereas Katipa died in 1863. Infact, Matire actually wrote a lament for Katitakiwaru (NOT Katipa).

Anonymous

Posted: 30 Oct 2020

Te Katipa did not marry Matire Toha, daughter of Hongi Heke. Matira Toha, who was Ngapuhi Cheif Rewa's daughter, was married to Kati Takiwaru, Pōtatau Te Wherowhero's younger brother, to cement peace amongst Waikato and Ngapuhi. I have heard some refer to Te Katipa as Kati Te Katipa in reference to being the one who married Matire Toha. This is wrong. Kati Takiwaru was not Te Katipa.

Anonymous

Posted: 14 Oct 2020

There is no such person as Hongi Heke. Matire Toha was the daughter of Rewa who was bestowed to Pōtatau Te Wherowhero brother Katitakiwaru.

michelle o'loughlin

Posted: 27 May 2018

Te Katipa Te Awarahi did not sign the Treaty twice. Te Awarahi is a separate person, and, according to the research I have, is Te Katipa's son.

Te Katipa was the owner of the war canoe 'Te Toki a Tapiri' that resides in the Auckland War Museum. Te Katipa died on March 25 1863 from the injuries he received trying to protect his beloved canoe from being scratched by an overhanging tree branch, see Paperspast article April 1861.

Te Awarahi died in 1875, according to a Paperspast death notice. This means that the Katipa spoken of at the 1899 Regatta is a different Katipa altogether.

It would be prudent for the researchers of this website to look in to these claims and address the changes I have spoken of, especially since Te Katipa was a respected figure who, according to articles, may have been the richest man in New Zealand when he died.

Anonymous

Posted: 05 Apr 2016

Te katipa was tuakana to potatau.,that is why the kingitanga did not sign the treaty..Maihi his son is one of two sons from the arranged marriage of Te katipa and Matire-Toha daughter of hongi heke.Their other sons name was Kukutai.