April 16, 2014
Te Pahi medal sold despite protest
An engraved silver medal given to Bay of Islands chief Te Pahi by New South Wales Governor Philip King in 1806 has sold at auction for its reserve of $300,000 Australian.
Sotheby’s Sydney refused requests from Te Pahi’s hapu Ngati Torehina to delay the auction, which was on behalf of a family who had owned the medal for at least 120 years.
Kaumatua Hugh Rihari says it appears the taonga could be lost for good.
The medal, one of the earliest examples of Australian silversmithing, is believed to have been looted by British whalers who attacked Te Pahi’s island stronghold in 1810.
Te Pahi died in the attack, which was misdirected revenge for the burning of the ship Boyd by another chief the previous year.
He had been given the medal for fostering relationships and trade between Maori and the British.
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