TAIAROA, HORI KEREI (?-1905), a younger son of Te Matenga Taiaroa (q.v.), was disposed to welcome the pakeha, and took full advantage of his opportunities for education, of which he was an enthusiastic advocate. Being possessed of considerable property in Otago and Canterbury, he devoted himself to the improvement of his people, and the model Maori school at Kaiapoi was mainly due to him. Upright, reliable and of high ideals, he stood stubbornly by his convictions. From 1871 to 1878 and from 1881-85 he was member of Parliament for the Southern Maori district. In 1879-80 and again from 1885 till his death (on 4 Aug 1905) he was a member of the Legislative Council. In 1888 a joint committee was appointed to inquire into the South Island land claims, and to satisfy the needs of the landless natives of Ngai-Tahu further reserves were set aside. Taiaroa always believed that his father and other chiefs made a mistake in signing Kemp's (1848) and the Murihiku deed, and they promoted a petition from the Ngai-Tahu people contesting the land court decision and contending that the sales were carried out under threat of force. In 1878 he suggested the establishment of a council in which the Maori could manage their own affairs. Such an act was passed in 1900.

N.Z.P.D., 15 Aug 1905; Roberts, Southland; S. P. Smith, Taranaki; Pratt; McNab; Stack; Hocken, Otago; Scholefield in N.Z. Times, 10 Oct 1907; N.Z. Times, 18 Aug 1905; Evening Post, 5 Aug 1905; Evening Star, 23 Jan 1874; Otago Daily Times, 24 Oct 1900, 7 Aug 1905.

Reference: Volume 2, page 181

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