Tiahuia

As the whngai daughter of Te Puea Hrangi, an inspiring leader of the Waikato, Tiahuia Te Puea Hrangi witnessed and took part in some of the major events that changed Aotearoa New Zealand. Merenia Gray, Tiahuias daughter, explores Tiahuias life and her whakapapa. Using stories, poetry, letters and interviews, Merenia retells the stories of how her ancestors survived Te Rauparahas raids, signed the Treaty of Waitangi, and came from Norfolk and Aberdeen to settle in Nelson. Tiahuia was a teacher, an artist, a Wellington City Councillor, a graduate of Victoria University, a nurse, a lifelong member of Ngti Pneke, and a skilled practitioner of a range of Mori performing arts, particularly karanga. She was a unique woman whose life drew together te ao Mori and te ao Pkeh.