Research to date has uncovered that at least 18 wāhine may have signed the Treaty of Waitangi

Archives NZ: Of the 18, ten are certain, six likely, & another two have very little or conflicting information available

The first known wāhine rangatira to sign was Ana Hamu of Ngāpuhi who was the 30th signatory at Waitangi on 6 Feb 1840

She was the widow of Te Koki, Chief of Te Uri-o-Ngongo (d. 1829) & had gifted land for the Mission Station at Paihia

Another of the wāhine signatories was Te Rangitopeora of Ngāti Toa & Ngāti Raukawa, also known as Rangi Topeora

She had signed at Kāpiti on 14 May 1840. The four huia tail feathers in her hair are a sign of her rank.

On 3 Feb 1840, Treaty of Waitangi had been drafted by Governor William Hobson & James Busby (British Resident in NZ)

The Treaty was to be an agreement between Britain, represented by William Hobson, and NZ, represented by rangatira

On 4 Feb 1840, Rev Henry Williams & his son Edward translated the Treaty of Waitangi into Māori

On 5 Feb, the English & Māori translation were presented to c.500 Māori at Waitangi for discussion

On 6 Feb, the Treaty was signed at Waitangi, after which it circulated around NZ to gather further signatures

The first Chief to sign the Treaty was Hōne Heke and the first woman was Ana Hamu

Signatories signed with their name or by drawing an unique tohu (mark) or from part of their tā moko (facial tattoo)

(Image: Tohu signatures gathered from Ngāti Porou on the East Coast by missionary William Williams)

1st female signatory at Waitangi was Ana Hamu (Iwi: Ngāpuhi, Hapū: Te Uri-o-Ngongō)

Ana (c.1788-1848) was the widow of Te Koki, Chief of Te Uri-o-Ngongo who'd died in 1829

Ana is the 30th person to sign on Sheet 1: The Waitangi Sheet. (Alongside her name is the reference number 61)

Each name on Sheet 1 was later given a number as a reference which does not always correspond with the order of signing

In 1818, Ana & her husband Chief Te Koki had sent their son to stay with Marsden at Parramatta where he died

According to Rev Henry Williams, Te Koki asked for a missionary in exchange for his son’s death

Treaty sheet signed at Waitangi was taken by Colonial Secretary Willoughby Shortland to Kaitāia aboard "New Zealander"

When Shortland & his official party arrived on 27 April, they were greeted by Te Rarawa with a haka & musket fire

(Image: Flagstaff to commemorate the site where the Treaty was signed on the lawn of missionary William Gilbert Puckey)

On 28 April, after Chief Nōpera Pana-kareao spoke last, sixty-one signatures were gathered

The signing was followed by a feast provided by Chief Nōpera & an exchange of gifts

Ereonora (Eleanor) of Te Rarawa (Reference no. 207 on Sheet 1 - The Waitangi Sheet)

Ereonora signed opposite her husband Chief Nōpera Pana-kareao

(Image: Ereona & her husband Nōpera standing on the right)

Her parents were Kahi & Te Huhu (Whārō) who was the great-grandson of Chief Tarutaru & Te Ruapounamu

Her father also signed the Treaty

The Waikato-Manukau copy of the Treaty of Waitangi was written in English

It was received in late March-early April by Robert Maunsell, whose mission station was near mouth of Waikato River

The Treaty was signed with 32 names at Waikato Heads near Robert Maunsell's mission station on 11 April

Seven names were added at Manukau Harbour (probably at Āwhitu) on 26 April

Kahe Te Rau-o-te-rangi (Reference no. 4 on Sheet 8 — The Cook Strait (Henry Williams) Sheet)

Her father, Te Matoha, had died before the Treaty was signed & her mother was Te Hautonga of Ngāti Mutunga & Te Āti Awa

Kahe (?–1871?) had arrived in Kāpiti with her parents in c.1823 during Te Rauparaha's migration from Kāwhia

Was heralded for 7 mile swim from Kāpiti Is. to mainland with a child strapped on her back to warn of invasion in 1824

Kahe & her husband John Nicoll (aka Scotch Jock) kept an inn at Paekākāriki where Gov Grey often stayed

After living & working together since 1832/33 as traders, they'd married on 10 Nov 1841 & she was baptised in 1844

Pākewa, also known as Paekawa (Reference no. 33 on Sheet 8 — The Cook Strait (Henry Williams) Sheet)

Her parents may have been Ngākoro & Te Hurupoki (of Ngāti Ruanui)

Pākewa (c.1800-1873) married Rāwiri Nukaiahu & they migrated from Taranaki to Waikanae c.1830s

They had 8 children, including 2 daughters Mere & Pairoke (who married settler William Jenkins in 1849)

Te Rangitopeora, also known as Waitohu a Topeora, signed at Kāpiti on 14 May 1840

She was born at Kāwhia & migrated south with her people. (Image: Photograph by Edward Smallwood Richards in 1860s)

She signed by drawing her moko. (Reference no. 78 on Sheet 8 - Cook Strait (Henry Williams)

Her mother was Waitohi (Ngāti Toa & Ngāti Raukawa) & father was Te Rākaherea. Her hapū: Ngāti Kimihia & Ngāti Te Maunu.

She was Te Rauparaha's niece, Te Rangihaeta's sister & Tamihana's aunt. Wed c.4 times (son: Mātene & daughter: Rākapa)

The 4 huia tail feathers in her hair are a sign of her rank. (Painting of Richards' photograph by Gottfreid Lindauer)

She was the daughter of Titia & Te Aewa, & her brother, Hōri Kīngi Te Ānaua, was Ngāti Ruaka leader

Her baptismal name was Rāwinia (Lavinia). She'd married Mahuera Paki Tanguru-o-te-rangi of Muaūpoko.

She & her husband spent most of their married life in Whanganui where she died in 1868 aged c.85

They had 2 daughters (Hihiko I Te Rangi & Rora) & son Te Rangihiwinui (later known as Te Keepa or Major Kemp)

A carving in totara of Rere-ō-maki, Tanguru and Te Keepa made in 1870 is held at the Whanganui Regional Museum

Rere-ō-maki is also commemorated by her people in the name of a reach of the lower Whanganui River.