Sydney Taiwhanga Explained

Hirini Rawiri Taiwhanga (1832 – 27 November 1890), known as Sydney Taiwhanga, was a 19th-century Māori member of the House of Representatives.

Taiwhanga identified with the Ngāpuhi iwi. He was born in Kaikohe, Northland, New Zealand in about 1832; his father was Rawiri Taiwhanga.

He unsuccessfully contested the Western Maori electorate in the . Of eight candidates, he came last with 5.5% of the vote.^[1] In the Western Maori, he came fourth out of five candidates.^{[2] [3]}

He represented the Northern Maori electorate from 1887 to 1890 when he died, aged about 55.^[4]

He was re-elected in 1890 for Northern Maori, but died on election day. He also stood in Eastern Maori, and came second.^[5]

A by-election was held in the Northern Maori electorate on 7 February 1891 to replace him.

Notes and References

1. News: The Western Maori Election . 15 March 2014 . . 5 August 1884 . XXIII . 1885 . 3.
2. News: Wanganui Herald . 16 March 2014 . 11 January 1887 . XXI . 6117 . 2.
3. News: The Western Maori Election . 16 March 2014 . . 30 December 1886 . XXXII . 191 . 2.
4. News: Death of Sydney Taiwhanga . . 28 November 1890 . XVII . 5932 . 2.
5. Book: Scholefield, Guy Hardy . Guy Scholefield

   . Guy Scholefield . New Zealand Parliamentary Record . 2nd . First published in 1913 . 1925 . Govt. Printer . Wellington . 138.