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Räwiri Püaha's gun

Image Räwiri Püaha's gun

TLF ID R4691

This is a 'superimposed-load' or 'four-hammer' double-barrelled shotgun. Known as 'Koatariini', it belonged to Räwiri Kïngi Püaha, a chief of the Mäori tribe Ngäti Toa Rangatira. The butt of the shotgun is made from walnut. The barrel and trigger are made from steel and brass, and are attached to the rest of the gun with a thin metal plate and metal hammers, both of which are decorated with a leaf motif. Manufactured by the Belgian firm Dewalle Brothers in about 1850, the shotgun measures 120 cm x 6 cm x 20 cm.

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Educational details

Educational value
  • This asset shows a gun given as a gift to Räwiri Kïngi Püaha by Governor George Grey, probably at a hui (meeting) held in 1853 at Ötaki (on the west coast, at the southern end of New Zealand's North Island), where the Ngäti Toa Rangatira, Ngäti Raukawa and Ngäti Awa tribes had gathered to farewell Grey.
  • It highlights a custom associated with Mäori protocol at events such as formal farewells and pöwhiri (formal welcomes) - exchanging gifts was an important way of bestowing mana (status), and items such as weapons were popular as gifts, with this particular gun being seen as bestowing high status.
  • It illustrates an artefact that is associated with an important Mäori gathering of the colonial era, and that symbolises the relationship between these iwi (tribes) and the British Queen's representative in New Zealand.
  • It indicates the importance of Ngäti Toa Rangatira at the time - despite its small size, this tribe was built up into a powerful force by its most famous leader, Te Rauparaha; described by the historian James Belich as the nearest thing New Zealand could boast to an African-style conquest state, the tribe controlled the key trading route surrounding Kapiti Island as well as access to Cook Strait, which divides the North and South Islands.
  • It refers to the place of George Grey in New Zealand history - during his first term as Governor, Grey had subdued a number of Mäori tribes, including Ngäti Toa Rangatira, and asserted European dominance and control in the aftermath of the Treaty of Waitangi.
  • It highlights Grey's relationship with Ngäti Toa Rangatira, which in the 1840s had involved war against the powerful chiefs Te Rauparaha and Te Rangihaeata - this war concluded when Grey had Te Rauparaha arrested in 1846 and forced Te Rangihaeata to leave the area, thus destroying Ngäti Toa Rangatira's power in the region.
  • It shows a gun with four hammers, which allowed its firepower to be increased, as two charges could be loaded into each barrel of the gun - this was considered dangerous as it meant both charges could explode at the same time, and the model was therefore most often used as an expensive and ornamental present given to dignitaries.
Topics Firearms Gifts

Other details

Contributors
  • Author
  • Name: Dewalle Brothers\, Belgium
  • Organization: Dewalle Brothers\, Belgium
  • Description: Author
  • Contributor
  • Name: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
  • Organization: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
  • Description: Content provider
  • URL: http://www.tepapa.govt.nz
  • Name: Dewalle Brothers\, Belgium
  • Organization: Dewalle Brothers\, Belgium
  • Description: Author
  • Name: Education Services Australia
  • Organization: Education Services Australia
  • Description: Data manager
  • Copyright Holder
  • Name: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
  • Organization: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
  • Publisher
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organization: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Description: Publisher
  • Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: http://www.esa.edu.au
  • Resource metadata contributed by
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Address: AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
Access profile
  • Colour independence
  • Device independence
  • Hearing independence
Learning Resource Type
  • Image
Rights
  • © Education Services Australia Ltd and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 2013, except where indicated under Acknowledgements