In 1840 more than 500 chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document. Ngā Tohu, when complete, will contain a biographical sketch of each signatory.
| Signature | Sheet | Signed as | Probable name | Tribe | Hapū | Signing Occasion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Sheet 9 — The East Coast Sheet | Te Pakaru | Enoka Te Pakaru | Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki | Te Whānau-a-Taupara | Tūranga, 5-12 May 1840 |
Enoka Te Pakaru signed the East Coast sheet of the Treaty of Waitangi between 5 and 12 May 1840 at Tūranga (now Gisborne). He was a Te Whānau-a-Taupara rangatira (chief) from the Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki iwi (tribe).
Te Pakaru is said to have composed the oriori (a song for children) ‘Pō! Pō!’ about the mythical origin of the kūmara. This appeared in Ngā Mōteatea, part two as song 145.
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