In 1884 King Tāwhiao and a number of rangatira travelled to England to deliver a petition to Queen Victoria seeking recognition of tribal sovereignty. While a number of Māori had an audience with the queen, Tāwhiao and his group were not granted an audience. An account of the journey and text of the petition was published in Māori. This extract contains the last part of the petition:

‘We your Māori people continue to hold fast to the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles together with its mana. It is these principles which guide those things about which we petition, and for which we crossed the Pacific Ocean. We also request an audience with the queen so that we can renew the words of that treaty and so that neither the New Zealand government nor any action of it is able to undermine the Treaty. Greetings to the queen.
By Tawhiao.
Wi Te Wheoro.
Topia Turoa.
Hori Ropiha.
Patara Tuhi Maioha.'