Herald Bunbury treaty copy

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Herald (Bunbury) copy of the treaty

For more than two months in 1840, Major Thomas Bunbury sailed around New Zealand acquiring signatures for the Treaty of Waitangi. His instructions were to complete negotiations in North Island areas that had not been covered and to gain agreement in the South Island. It was during this trip that he proclaimed British sovereignty over the South Island – before he had finished gaining the agreement of chiefs there to the treaty. He gained 27 signatures on this Māori-language copy of the document.

Bunbury left the Bay of Islands on HMS Herald on 28 April. A week later he met with chiefs at Coromandel Harbour. Some signed the treaty, but others felt that more time should have been allowed for discussion and refused to sign. Two chiefs signed when the ship anchored off the Mercury Islands.

Bunbury’s first stop in the South Island was on 28 May at Akaroa, where two chiefs signed two days later. Bad weather forced the ship to bypass Otago, but three chiefs signed on 10 June at Ruapuke Island in Foveaux Strait. The Herald then returned up the east coast, sending a boat ashore in Otago Harbour, where two chiefs signed. Another signing occurred at Guards Bay in Cloudy Bay on 17 June. Ngāti Toa chief Nohorua insisted that his signature be witnessed by his son-in-law, whaler Joseph Thoms; according to Nohorua, if his grandchildren lost their land, their father would share the blame.

Having proclaimed sovereignty over the South Island at Horahorakakahu Island, Bunbury sailed for Kāpiti, off the south-west coast of the North Island. Off Mana Island he encountered Te Rauparaha and insisted that he sign. The chief assured Bunbury that he had already given his agreement to Henry Williams, but he nevertheless signed Bunbury’s copy on 19 June. After a brief stopover at the mouth of the Tukituki River in Hawke’s Bay, where Te Hāpuku signed, Bunbury arrived back at the Bay of Islands on 2 July.

The Herald (Bunbury) copy was probably made by translator Henry Kemp. It is on parchment and suffered severe damage from rats decades later while in storage. The copy has Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson’s signature.

Follow links in this table to find out more about those who signed and the signing occasion.

Sheet 7 — The Herald (Bunbury) Sheet
Sign ordersort descending Signed as Probable Name Tribe Hapū Signing Occasion
1 Te Horeta te Taniwha Te Hōreta Te Taniwha Ngāti Whanaunga Te Mateawa Coromandel, 4 May 1840
2 Kitahi Kītahi Te Taniwha Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Pāoa Te Mateawa Coromandel, 4 May 1840
3 Puakanga Puakanga Ngāti Whanaunga? Coromandel, 4 May 1840
4 Hauauru Hauāuru Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Whanaunga Coromandel, 4 May 1840
5 Purahi Te Pūnahi Ngāti Maru Mercury Island, 7 May 1840
6 Ngataiaepa Ngātaiāepa Ngāti Pāoā Te Rapupō Mercury Island, 7 May 1840
7 Iwikau Iwikau Ngāi Tahu Ngāti Rangiāmoa Akaroa, 30 May 1840
8 John Love Hone Tīkao Ngāi Tahu Ngāi Te Kahukura, Ngāi Tūāhuriri Akaroa, 30 May 1840
9 John Touwaick Hone Tūhawaiki Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe Ngāti Ruahikihiki Ruapuke, 10 June 1840
10 Kaikoura Kaikoura Whakatau Ngāi Tahu Ruapuke, 10 June 1840
11 Taiaroa/Tararoa Te Matenga Taiaroa Ngāi Tahu Ruapuke, 10 June 1840
12 John Karitai Hone Karetai Ngāi Tahu Ngāti Ruahikihiki, Ngāi Te Kahukura, Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ngāti Hinekura Otago Heads, 13 June 1840
13 Korako Kōrako Ngāi Tahu Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ngāti Huirapa Otago Heads, 13 June 1840
14 Maui Pu Māui Pū Ngāti Toa? Cloudy Bay, 17 June 1840
15 Eka Hare Eka Hare Ngāti Toa? Cloudy Bay, 17 June 1840
16 Puke Puke Ngāti Toa? Cloudy Bay, 17 June 1840
17 Nohorua Nohorua Ngāti Toa Ngāti Kimihia? Cloudy Bay, 17 June 1840
18 Waiti Te Whāiti Ngāti Toa? Cloudy Bay, 17 June 1840
19 Te Wi Riwai Matene Te Wi/Mātene Te Whiwhi? Ngāti Toa? Ngāti Tama? Cloudy Bay, 17 June 1840
20 Te Kanai Te Kanae Ngāti Toa Ngāti Awhai-a-Te-Hau? Cloudy Bay, 17 June 1840
21 Pukeko Pūkeko Ngāti Toa? Cloudy Bay, 17 June 1840
22 Kaikoura Kaikoura Ngāti Toa? Cloudy Bay, 17 June 1840
23 Te Rauparaha Te Rauparaha Ngāti Toa Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Rākau, Ngāti Kimihia Mana Island, 19 June 1840
24 Rangihaeata Te Rangihaeata Ngāti Toa Ngāti Kimihia, Ngāti Te Maunu, Ngāti Kōata, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Rākau Mana Island, 19 June 1840
25 Te Hapuku Te Hāpuku (Te Ikanui-o-te-moana) Ngāti Te Whatu-i-āpiti, Ngāti Kahungunu Ngāti Te Rangi-ko-ia-anake Hawke's Bay, 24 June 1840
26 Waikato Waikato Ngāti Kahungunu Ngāti Te Whatu-i-apiti Hawke's Bay, 24 June 1840
27 Mahikai Harawira Mahikai Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Te Whatu-i-apiti Hawke's Bay, 24 June 1840