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Tuwharetoa: A history of the Māori People of the Taupo District by John Te Herekiekie Grace (1959)

This book, first published in 1959, is recognised and remains a tribal classic for Ngāti Tuwharetoa.

Publication details

Grace, J. Te H. Tuwharetoa: A History of the Māori People of the Taupo District. Wellington: Reed, 1959.

About the book

Sir John Te Herekiekie Grace (Ngāti Tuwharetoa, 1905-1985) was one of many Māori leaders who emerged in the post second world war 1950s era; he was an interpreter, community leader and high commissioner. Sir Grace’s prominence increased in the 1960s in his many appointments including to the New Zealand Geographic Board, the National Historical Places Trust, the Māori Education Foundation and the Māori Purposes Fund Board. He worked for 15 years on researching the book Tuwharetoa: A History of the Māori People of the Taupo District, which explores the origins of the Ngāti Tuwharetoa iwi and covers the origins of the tribe from Hawai’i through to the mid-twentieth century. Sir Grace’s extensive research and publication was and still is recognised as a tribal classic.

Further information 

This publication is part of the series Te Takarangi: Celebrating Māori publications - a sample list of 150 non-fiction books produced by a partnership between Royal Society Te Apārangi and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga.