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Story: Kīngitanga – the Māori King movement

King Tāwhiao

King Tāwhiao

This portrait of the second Māori king, Tāwhiao Matutaera Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, was made in 1882, 22 years after Tāwhiao inherited the title from his father. He holds a ceremonial whalebone patu (club) and wears a cloak, probably made from kiwi feathers.

Using this item

Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki

by Gottfried Lindauer

Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Rahui Papa and Paul Meredith, Kīngitanga – the Māori King movement – Tāwhiao, 1860–1894, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/37862/king-tawhiao (accessed 14 June 2026).

Story by Rahui Papa and Paul Meredith, published 18 June 2012, updated 1 September 2024.

Comments

Teena Te Maro (née Williams)
10 May 2015
Kia ora, I am trying to align my whakapapa to my Nanny Ma (great great-kuia). Her name is Kahutaua (King Tawhiao niece), she was married to my Nanny PA Rikirangi Hohepa.
Diane Frances Charteris
14 August 2013
Sorry I got that wrong. My fourth g. grandfather is; Te Tui O Te Rangi he is uncle to King Tawhiao. Te Tui O Te Rangi's daughter; Rehe Hekina Kenehuru married William Meurant son of Ferdinand Meurant, a French aristocrat. William Meurant was the enterprenuer at the signing of the treaty of Waitangi.
Diane frances Charteris
18 March 2013
I am decended from King Tawhiao, his daughter married a son of a french aristocrat. Willaim Meurant born in Sydney Australia. William Meurant was my grandmother's great grandfather. He was the enterpener at the signing of the treaty of Waitangi.