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Story: Te tango whenua – Māori land alienation

Deed of sale

In this deed of sale from 1840, Ngāi Tahu chief Tūhawaiki has drawn his moko (facial tattoo) as a signature.

Using this item

Hocken Collections, University of Otago

Reference: SO6-165L/MS-0808/B

Permission of the Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago, must be obtained before any re-use of this image. Further information may be obtained from the Library through its website.

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How to cite this page

Richard Boast, Te tango whenua – Māori land alienation – Pre-treaty transactions, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/19512/deed-of-sale (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Richard Boast, published 1 March 2009, updated 1 July 2015.