Seal of King Potatau Te Wherowhero
Production date
Circa 1860
Description
Affixed to this 62 x 49 millimetre piece of card is a wax imprint of the seal of the second Maaori King, Te Arikinui Taawhiao Tuaroko Maatutaaera Pootatau Te Wherowhero (b. 1822, d. 1894). As the handwriting on the reverse of the backing-card explains, the seal originally appeared on a letter sent by Kiingi Taawhiao to a widow, Mrs Charlston, living alone among the “rebel Maories [sic] at Kawia [Kaawhia]”.The letter assured Charlston of her safety while among his people.
Ms Charleton was the widow of Kaawhia landowner George Charleton, who had acquired large holdings in the area prior to 1850. Following the war (1863-4) tensions rose between loyalist and Kingite groups in Kaawhia, now behind the Aukati (line of demarcation between European and Kingite spheres). Some European were forced out of the area in the mid-to-late 1850s. Although initially promised to be able to stay on strict conditions, Ms Charleton was ordered to vacate her 40 acres farm (along with Kupapa) in 1857. See Michael Belgrave, Dancing with the King: The Rise and Fall of the King Country 1864-1885), p. 26-27.
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Object detail
.2 - 38 x 97mm
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