09/08/2026
Did you know that our Ngāti Whakaue tūpuna, Pūkakī features on every New Zealand 20 cent coin?
Pūkākī was the only child of Tamiuru (Ngāti Pikiao) and Taiwere (Ngāti Whakaue). He became a rangatira of great mana and was a respected chief among his people. Pūkākī was born at Tūtānekai’s pā, ‘Kaiweka’, on the southern shores of Mokoia Island. When he got older, he went to live in Parawai pā at Ngongotahā.
In the early 1800s, a great carving was made of tōtara, from the Ngongotahā Stream, in remembrance of this great Whakaue leader. The carving illustrated Pūkākī embracing his two sons, Wharengaro and Rangitakuku. In the 1830s, Pūkākī stood as a gateway, five or six metres high, at Pukeroa Pā on the hill above Ōhinemutu.
In 1877 Ngāti Whakaue gifted Pūkaki to Crown official Fenton to seal a township partnership with the Crown — trusting that partnership to be honoured. Instead, Pūkaki was later passed on, this time to Auckland Museum, without our iwi's knowledge or consent. It took the research of Dr Paora Tapsell to uncover what had really happened, and in 1997, 120 years on, Pūkaki was formally returned home.
Since 1990, a reproduction of an 1836 carving of Pūkaki has featured on the tails side of the 20c coin. The original carving now stands at Rotorua Museum, cared for by the Pūkaki Trust.
There is a long story behind the issue of this coin, it was not straightforward, read more about it here:
https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/money-and-cash/banknotes-and-coins/coins-in-circulation/pukaki-maori-carving-on-20-cent-coin
Image:
Two special gold coins were minted, which the tapu of Pūkaki was placed and they are each contained in special waka huia (treasure boxes) carved by Lyonel Grant of Ngāti Pikiao. One coin, representing the people of Aotearoa was gifted by the Governor General to Te Pūtea Matua; while the other was gifted to Ngāti Whakaue, representing their side of Te Tiriti partnership embedded in the Pūkaki coin.
References:
Pūkākī: A Tupuna of Great Mana – GTAS
Rotorua Council
Pūkaki and the 20 cent coin - Reserve Bank of New Zealand - Te Pūtea Matua
