What is "tapua"

Tapua (c.1730-c.1800) was a Māori rangatira, arikinui (senior chief) of the Ngati Hao hapū, of what became the Ngapuhi confederation.

His base was the Kaikohe and nearby Hokianga area of northern Aotearoa ( New Zealand). Tapua was also the tohunga of Ngati Hao and famed as a great warrior in the tradition of the fighting rangatira (chiefs) of Ngapuhi.

Tapua saw James Cook's ship when it visited in 1769, becoming one of the very first Māori people to have contact with Europeans.