Wiremu Pere (Wi Pere) lived from 1837 to 1915, leading his tribes of Rongowhakaata and Te Aitanga a Mahaki through some of the most turbulent chapters of New Zealand history. He stood resolute against colonialism and entered parliament to stand up for his East Coast people, yet was astute in his business dealings and was compromised in the views of many Pakeha and Maori. This handsome book, illustrated with numerous photographs, whakapapa and maps, sets out the many sides Wi Pere's life and times with a particular focus on his family life, parliamentary career and contributions to the East Coast.
Author Biography
Joseph Te Kani Pere, a great-grandson of Wi Pere, took over the writing of the book from earlier family members. A former teacher, he has a doctorate in English from the University of Waikato. After countless hours of research and writing, he has brought the work to completion with the support of the Wi Pere Trust.
