This photograph of Tainui–Waikato leader Te Kirihaehae Te Puea Hērangi was taken about 1938. It shows her wearing the honour she was awarded that year, Commander of the British Empire.
During the First World War, Te Puea was a staunch opponent of the conscription of Waikato men. She was guided by the words of her grandfather, King Tāwhiao. After making peace with the Crown in 1881, he had forbidden Waikato taking up arms again:
Listen, listen, the sky above, the earth below, and all the people assembled here. The killing of men must stop; the destruction of land must stop. I shall bury my patu in the earth and it shall not rise again … Waikato, lie down. Do not allow blood to flow from this time on.
Te Puea and others took this as an injunction never to fight again. Te Puea was also of the view that Waikato had its own King and so had no need to fight for the British King.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PAColl-5584-58
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.
