Te Matenga Taiaroa (c.1783-1863)

Te Matenga Taiaroa (c.1783-1863), a Nga Tahu chief who was one of the most able warriors in the South Island of New Zealand.
 * He and associated chiefs sold large amounts of land to the settlers.
 * In 1859 he was baptised a Methodist.
 * Many years of association with sealers and whalers had made him bitter and nasty.
 * The settlers described him as being unpleasant, tyrannous and avancious.
 * In the 1840's, he was one of several South Island Maori leaders involved in local shipping.