Paora Tūhaere

Paora Tūhaere was the leading chief and historian of the Auckland iwi Ngāti Whatua tribe of New Zealand's native Māori people. He was a Christian preacher and advocate for peaceful relationships with the colonial European government.

Tūhaere became a Christian early in his life and took Pāora (Paul) as his baptismal name. He was active as an Anglican lay preacher in hapū and intertribal gatherings of an evangelical nature, and worked for peace. 

In the 1840s and 1850s, with other Ngāti Whātua leaders, he was involved in the sale of land for the growing town of Auckland. But as opposition to land sales increased near the end of the 1850s, Ngāti Whātua committed to holding their remaining land.

After the death of leader Te Kawau in 1868, Tūhaere became the acknowledged leader of Ngāti Whātua.

From the 1870s Tūhaere was a leading man in the movement known as Te Kotahitanga (unity of purpose), which aimed to achieve greater Māori control of Māori affairs. He sought these goals while following the Ngāti Whātua policy of allegiance to the Crown and friendship with the government.

Tūhaere married twice. His first wife was Tūpanapana, a grand-daughter of Ngāpuhi leader Te Wharerahi; he was survived by his second wife, Harata, and a daughter, Mere. He died at Ōrākei on 12 March 1892.