TAIWHANGA, HIRINI (? 1840-90), chief of Uriohau hapu of Ngapuhi, Kaikohe, Bay of Islands, was a son of Rawiri Taiwhanga (q.v.), one of Hongi Hika's fighting chiefs and was born at Bay of Islands about 1840. As a youth he received a fair education at St John's College, Auckland, being particularly well versed in the Scriptures. He also learned the trade of a carpenter and became expert at it, and was one of the crew of Selwyn's mission schooner Undine in 1850. Then he engaged in the survey of the Puhipuhi forest. Taiwhanga established a school at Kaikohe (1877) to teach natives in English, and for a while acted as a schoolmaster. He was a man of outstanding ability in public affairs, energetic and indefatigable, but somewhat erratic. He was a member of the delegation which visited England in the eighties to obtain redress of the King grievances. He stood for Parliament seven times for three North Island electorates before being elected in Sep 1887. From that date until his death he was M.H.R. for the Northern Maori. Taiwhanga died at Whakatane on 27 Nov 1890 (just after his re-election). His wife Mere Pohoi died at Kaikohe (24 May 1876), leaving several children. Taiwhanga married (1877) an Irish widow, Mrs Moran, and they had two sons. He was one of the most able Maori politicians.

N.Z.P.D., 1887-90; Scholefield in N.Z. Times, 10 Oct 1907. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 183

🌳 Further sources