History – Symbols of Friendship

When you enter Mangawhai Museum, you first see birds, pohutukawa and dacite columns, while you hear a karanga (welcome call). Turn right, and you enter our mana whenua exhibit. Here you’ll find stories of people, battles, marae and more. Prized among these are symbols of friendship between early Māori who lived in this area and those who came later.

One of these treasured tokens is a letter, another is a talking stick.

The letter was published in the Albertland Gazette in October 1863 under the heading, Letter from the Maoris to the Pakehas (sic), and includes the following:

“This is a word to our beloved friends, the Pakehas of Mangawai, Oruawharo, Paparoa, Matakohe, and all in Kaipara. Some of you may have heard false reports concerning the Maoris and their plans for the future. Do not think we have forgotten our promises made to you in the beginning at the feast of Otamatea. We have united ourselves to you with feelings of love and good faith desiring that justice and truth should overrule all our transactions, and discouraging anything like oppression either on the part of the Maori or the white man. We wish to live at peace with all men.”

Also in this exhibit on display is a tokotoko (talking stick, pictured). In this iconic image, currently on display in our Special Exhibition, He Apiha Takawaenga Māori (Māori liaison) Herby Skipper and history team lead Bev Ross look on this taonga (treasure), returned home to Mangawhai in 2023. This was a gift of friendship from Skipper’s ancestor, Chief Paikea, to Bev’s ancestor, Bob Ross, in the late 1800s. The museum is working to learn more about this precious item’s story and build relationships with hapu to ensure education and access to these artefacts and stories.

Come read the rest of the letter and see the tokotoko in person – our museum is open 7 days, 10am-4pm.

Coming Up at Mangawhai Museum:
Thu 6 Feb | Free Admission all day for Waitangi Day – free face-painting, performances and talks
Mar – May | Special Exhibition: The Tuia Mātauranga Roadshow
Fri 18 Apr – Mon 21 Apr | The Easter Book Fair – quality bargain books to raise funds for our museum