Story: He Whakaputanga – Declaration of Independence

Te Wherowhero, a chief of Waikato, is depicted sitting by a log. Also shown are Te Waru (centre) and Te Pakaru (far right). Te Wherowhero, one of the few chiefs outside Northland to sign the Declaration of Independence, was also the last to do so, in 1839. As Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, he later became the first Māori king.