Story: Ngāti Porou

Rāpata Wahawaha

Some important military leaders emerged within Ngāti Porou who opposed the Hauhau movement in their region. One was Rāpata (or Rōpata) Wahawaha. This portrait of him was painted in 1890 by the Bohemian-born artist Gottfried Lindauer, who specialised in portraits of Māori people. Depicted late in his life, Rāpata is wearing the New Zealand Cross he was awarded for participating in the government’s campaign against Te Kooti.