April 03, 2014
Rare link to past an auction block
A Ngapuhi hapu is looking at the possibility of securing a significant piece of New Zealand’s early history when it comes up for auction in Sydney this week.
It’s a silver medal presented to Bay of Islands chief, Te Pahi, by New South Wales Governor Phillip Gidely King in 1806.
Hugh Rihari from Ngati Torehina, who lives on Te Pahi's lands on the Purerua peninsula, says the medal was among the items looted by British sailors from Te Pahi’s prefabricated house when his island stronghold Motu Apo was attacked after the burning of the ship Boyd in 1810.
It appears to have come into the possession of Dutch surveyor John Peter Du Moulin, who came to New Zealand in the 1840s, and is being offered by his family.
Auctioneers Sotheby’s estimate it could be worth between $300,000 and $500,000.
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd