1. Introduction:

This biography is adapted from speech notes presented on June 30th 1995 at the Department of Conservation Field Centre, St Arnaud, at the unveiling of a carved memorial to Kehu. This short biography does not do justice to Kehu: there is a rich detail of his abilities, skills, character and personal demeanour in the journals of Thomas Brunner, Charles Heaphy and others, from which we have selected extracts: we recommend the complete journals to interested readers. ¹

A number of Maori terms and place names are used in these notes: an English translation is given at first usage, and a Glossary is presented at the end.