Story: He Whakaputanga – Declaration of Independence

Signatories to the declaration: Te Hāpuku

This photograph of Te Hāpuku was taken by James Wrigglesworth in the 1860s. The important Ngāti Kahungunu chief was the second-to-last signatory of the Declaration of Independence.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: PA2-1953

by James Dacie Wrigglesworth

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, He Whakaputanga – Declaration of Independence – Background to the declaration, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/35118/signatories-to-the-declaration-te-hapuku (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 28 May 2012.

Comments

06 July 2016

Thanks, Mel. I've updated the caption to '1860s' now.

Mel
19 June 2016

hi Te Ara. I really doubt this was taken in the 1830s. First recorded attempt at photography in NZ was 1848, photography itself generally accepted as starting 1839. The photographer here didn't start until 1863 (see ATL record http://natlib.govt.nz/items/22379295; Auckland Photographers database etc) ATL record for this image cites c.1865 as the date. Cheers Mel PS sorry if i've already emailed about this. Hard to keep track if there's no reply.