The Waikato-Manukau sheet was signed at the Mission Station of Robert Maunsell, near the mouth of the Waikato River (see the sheet here: www.flickr.com/photos/archivesnz/12195657724). The exact date of the hui is unknown, but Maunsell received the sheet in late March or early April 1840, and when Captain Symonds arrived after leaving Manukau on 3 April, he found the sheet had already been signed. The sheet notes that it was witnessed on 11 April.

When the sheet arrived around 1500 Māori were assembling at the Mission for a meeting. Taking advantage of the gathering, Maunsell secured the signatures of 32 rangatira. They were mainly from the lower Waikato region, with some from Ngāruawāhia and further upstream. However, when Captain Symonds arrived things has soured. No blankets had been sent to Maunsell, and those who signed felt their signatures had been wrongly obtained. Symonds then distributed a number of blankets amongst the rangatira before travelling back to Manukau.

This is an original painting of the Mission establishment at Waikato Heads, painted in 1854 (probably by Francis Dillon Bell). It shows the Boy’s School (1, far right), the Girls school (2, far left), the Mission Station itself (5), and the residence of Maunsell (6).

Archives Reference: IA1 Box 3459/ SEP no.4 (from 1854/10010) archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=21583266

This record is part of #Waitang175, celebrating 175 years since the signing of of te Tiriti o Waitangi. You can see other real time tweets on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ArchivesNZ), or explore the Waitangi 175 album here on Flickr.