PAORA TUHAERE – FOUNDING FATHER TAMAKI MAKAURAU – AUCKLAND CITY

Ten Things About Paora Tuhaere - Founding father of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest city:

Wisdom: He was a peacemaker, a warrior of Peace.

Pacific Visionary: He started up a Pacific Islands trading venture by buying a schooner, the Victoria

He unified fairly: In the face of injustice, he became a leading figure in the Kotahitanga movement, whose aim was to abolish Maori land laws, implement the Treaty of Waitangi, and exercise a degree of Maori self-government.

He partnered with The Crown: He furthered the “covenant” of Kohimarama.

He was a coastal dweller : This chief of Ngati Whatua lived at Orakei on the shores of the Waitemata harbour in Auckland.

He was an author: Tuhaere authored books about Kaipara and Tamaki by Ngati Whatua’s history.

He was a good negotiations navigator Intelligent, Paora Tuhaere demonstrated clearly his place in two worlds. The remarkable transition of Maori society is summed up in this one man’s adaptive ability to read the times and negotiate accordingly.

He thought bloodshed was needless and unwise: Their are many accounts of Paora Tuhaere mediating and heading off threats of war wisely through peaceful and wise persuasion.

He believed in shaping a city housing peoples Kiwi dreams: He had a vision for property residential development.

He was well liked: Tuhaere was known as a good friend to the Europeans, loyal to the Crown during the wars, an honest and straight-forward adviser to Governments and a conciliator between races in times of trouble.

____

In addition, like Robert Graham - a New Zealander who lived the same time as this great Chief, Paora Tuhaere was bilingual.