On 23 September 1887 a deed of gift was signed between paramount chief Horonuku Te Heuheu Tūkino IV of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Crown. Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngāuruhoe - the three mountains that now form the nucleus of Tongariro National Park - were given by the rangatira to the nation. This was New Zealand’s first national park, and the first in the world to be gifted by a country’s indigenous people. Horonuku wanted to protect the peaks as ‘a sacred place of the Crown, a gift forever from me and my people.’ He described his connection thus:

              Ko te Ha o tāku Maunga, ko tāku Manawa
               The Breath of my Mountain is my Heart 

His claim to the mountain region was a strong one. Not only was he paramount chief but the bones of his father Mananui, killed in an avalanche in 1846, lay buried there. Horonuku feared that the mana of the mountains would be lost if the land went through the Māori Land Court in the ordinary way and was subsequently cut up into blocks and sold. It was his son-in-law, Lawrence Makawe Grace who came up with the suggestion to make them a tapu place of the Crown. The gift was discussed and finalised at meeting of the Māori Land Court in Taupō.

Then just 2640 hectares, now Tongariro National Park extends over 79,000 hectares. In 1993 the park attained international recognition when it became a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognised for its universally significant cultural and natural values.

Shown here is the deed of gift for Tongariro National Park signed by Horonuku Te Heuheu Tūkino IV.

Archives Reference: ABWN 8102 W5279 Box 344/ WGN 742 www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=23475041

For more information email Research.Archives@dia.govt.nz