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Wiremu Taunui

He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene

On 28 October 1835 at the Waitangi residence of James Busby, 34 chiefs signed He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tirene (known in English as the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand). By 1839, 18 more chiefs had signed He Whakaputanga, which was acknowledged by the British government. This biography of one of the signatories was originally written for the He Tohu exhibition.

Signing details

Signature number
14
Signed as
Wiremu Ieti Taunui
Probable name
Wiremu Taunui
Iwi/Hapū
Ngāpuhi, Te Whiu
1835 residence
Te Waimate
Tohu (signature)
Signature of Wiremu Taunui

Unfortunately there are few references to Wiremu Taunui in published sources. A rangatira of Te Whiu, based at Te Waimate, he was a convert to Christianity and may have been named after the missionary William Yate. He signed He Whakaputanga on 28 October 1835 alongside other rangatira of the Waimate area. Another possibility is that Wiremu Taunui was actually Wiremu Hau, a Te Whiu leader and signatory to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.