Lucy Takiora Lord

Guide, interpreter (1842–1893)

Te Mahuki
​
​
(m. 1860; died 1866)​
  • Joseph Edwin Dalton
    ​
    (m. 1878)​
    • RelativesSophia Hinerangi (half-sister)[2]
    Nicola Kawana (relative)

    Lucy Takiora Lord (9 October 1842 – 3 September 1893) was a New Zealand guide and interpreter. She is known for her role as an interpreter between Māori peoples and English colonizers. She is considered a controversial figure due to her assistance in the selling of Māori land to Pākehā.[1]

    Biography

    Watercolour by Gustavus von Tempsky. Lucy Takiora Lord is in the foreground.

    She was born in Russell, Northland, New Zealand on 9 October 1842.[3][4] She was the daughter of the Māori Kotiro Hinerangi and the English shop owner William Lord.[1] Lord, alongside her first husband, Te Mahuki, were known as guides and interpreters for Gustavus von Tempsky and British troops during the New Zealand Wars in the 1860s.[5] Later, she acted as an interpreter during land purchases of Māori land.[1]

    Throughout her life she was known by many names including Louisa Grey, Lucy Elizabeth, Takiora Grey, Bloody Mary, Mrs Blake and Lucy D'Alton.[1]

    She married Joseph Dalton in 1878 under the name Louisa Grey.[2][1]

    Death and legacy

    She died on 3 September 1893 at New Plymouth hospital.[1]

    In July 2021 a play called Kūpapa based on the life of Lucy Takiora Lord written by Nicola Kawana premiered.[6] The play was presented by Te Pou Theatre in Auckland and directed by Erina Daniels.[7][8][9]

    References

    1. ^ a b c d e f g Donald, Mary. "Lucy Takiora Lord". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
    2. ^ a b MacDonald, Tui (1992). Macdonald, Charlotte (ed.). The book of New Zealand women = Ko Kui Ma Te Kaupapa (Repr. (twice) ed.). Wellington: Williams. pp. 650–652. ISBN 0908912048.
    3. ^ "Lucy Takiora Lord | Collections Online - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
    4. ^ "Lucy Elizabeth Lord". Puke Ariki Collection Online. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
    5. ^ Rice, R. (2018). "The 'Gordon Collection of Photographic Portraits Relating to the New Zealand Wars". New Zealand Journal of History. 51 (1): 37–52.
    6. ^ "The legend of Maori guide and interpreter, Lucy Takiora Lord". Radio New Zealand. 27 June 2021.
    7. ^ "KŪPAPA". Te Pou Theatre. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
    8. ^ O'Flaherty, Erin. "REVIEW: Kūpapa (Te Pou Theatre)". Theatre Scenes: Auckland Theatre Blog (Reviews and commentary). Retrieved 5 August 2021.
    9. ^ Pou, Te. "A Woman Of Consequence: Fierce Wāhine Tell The Story Of Lucy Takiora Lord | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lucy Takiora Lord.
    • Photograph of Lucy Lord, Puke Ariki
    Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
    • Te Papa (New Zealand)