Artist unknown :[Portrait of Hohepa Tamaihengia in European dress holding a mere. 1890s?]

Waist-length portrait of a Maori man, showing moko and dressed in European uniform, including cap, holding a mere in his right hand. The same man is shown in a photograph in Carkeek, W.: The Kapiti Coast (Wellington, 1966), identified as Hohepa Tamaihengia of Ngati Toa, a near relative of Te Rauparaha's and a visitor to the Chatham Islands in 1828 (or 1838?).

The subject had been identified (possibly by the donor when the painting was passed to the Library) as Rawiri Puaha, who was a son of Te Matoe and Hinekoto, both of Ngati Toa. Hinekoto was an elder half sister of Te Rauparaha. Rawiri married Ria Waitohi, the daughter of Te Peehi Kupe, the paramount chief of Ngati Toa. Rawiri and Ria had at least two children, only one of which, Raiha Puaha, survived to adulthood. (Mrs Prosser). Rawiri had an older and younger brother, Te Kanae and Hohepa Tamaihengia respectively.

The subject was painted from a photograph held by the Library at 1/2-097094-F. A copy is also held by Te Papa, which identifies all four Māori subjects by name on the verso, including Hohepa Tamaihengia, standing at right. The Te Papa copy is dated ca 1860s; Rawiri Puaha died in 1858.

Quantity: 1 oil(s).

Physical Description: Oil over opaltype photograph 374 x 270 mm (sight)

Provenance: Donor is descendant by marriage of Raiha Puaha Prosser, the latter a daughter of Rawiri Puaha, who himself was a son in law of Te Pehi Kupe, all leaders of Ngati Toa.