Sydney Taiwhanga


Hirini Rawiri Taiwhanga, known as Sydney Taiwhanga, was a 19th-century Māori member of the House of Representatives.
Taiwhanga identified with the Ngāpuhi iwi. He was born in Kaikohe, Northland, New Zealand in about 1832; his father was Rawiri Taiwhanga.
He unsuccessfully contested the Western Maori electorate in the. Of eight candidates, he came last with 5.5% of the vote. In the Western Maori, he came fourth out of five candidates.
He represented the Northern Maori electorate from 1887 to 1890 when he died, aged about 55.
He was re-elected in 1890 for Northern Maori, but died on election day. He also stood in Eastern Maori, and came second.
A by-election was held in the Northern Maori electorate on 7 February 1891 to replace him.