Kemp's Deed

A DigitalNZ Story by Donna Robertson

Governor Grey sent land commissioner Henry Kemp to the South Island in 1848 to buy land for the new settlement. Sixteen Ngāi Tahu chiefs signed Kemp’s Deed in Akaroa on 12 June 1848, selling the larger part of their land for £2,000, but keeping some land for settlements and reserves, including those places where they gathered food (mahinga kai).

maori, ngai tahu, kai tahu, kemps deed, kemp, deed, ngai tahu purchase, south island

Image: Land purchased from Ngāi Tahu

Land purchased from Ngāi Tahu

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Kemp's Deed - Tales of Banks Peninsula

Victoria University of Wellington

Ngāi Tahu: The Ngāi Tahu settlement

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Surveying in the South Island

Surveying in the South Island

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Ngāi Tahu deed of sale

Ngāi Tahu deed of sale

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Charles Heaphy

Charles Heaphy

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Walter Baldock Durrant Mantell

Walter Baldock Durrant Mantell

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant

Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Tīkao, Hōne Taare

Tīkao, Hōne Taare

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Hōne Taare Tīkao, about 1896

Hōne Taare Tīkao, about 1896

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage