Hakirau Street

This street is named after Captain John Agar Love, also known as Jacky and Hakirau (the name which was given to him by Te Ātiawa iwi). He was born about 1794, on the Isle of Skye, in Scotland.

Love, master of the trading ship Adventure, and his first mate Richard (Dicky) Barrett arrived off Ngāmotu (later New Plymouth) from Sydney, in February, 1828. They quickly formed good relationships with local hapū and iwi, and set up a trading post.

Both men married women from prominent Te Ātiawa families. Love married Mereruru Te Hikanui from Ngāti Te Whiti hapū. The couple had two sons and one daughter. Barrett married Wakaiwa or Rawinia, also of Ngāti Te Whiti.

In 1832 Love and Barrett took over the whaling station established by John Guard at Te Awaiti in the Marlborough Sounds. It is said that they retained more permanent whalers than many other stations around New Zealand.

Jacky Love died in October, 1839, aged 45. Hundreds of people attended his tangi and Te Ātiawa buried him at Te Awaiti.

His grave was marked with the prow of a waka (canoe), an honour usually reserved for rangatira (chiefs). It was adorned with stripes of red and white ochre, and edged with a fringe of feathers.

Surveyor J. W. Barnicoat, visiting the site in 1843, was simply told the grave was that of an important Māori chief.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.