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]

Lucy Takiora Lord
Born9 October 1842
Died3 September 1893
NationalityNew Zealand
Other namesLouisa Grey, Lucy Elizabeth, Takiora Grey, Bloody Mary, Mrs Blake, Lucy D'Alton[1]
Occupation(s)Guide, Interpreter
Spouses
  • Te Mahuki
    (m. 1860; died 1866)
  • Joseph Edwin Dalton
    (m. 1878)
RelativesSophia Hinerangi (half-sister)[2]
Nicola Kawana (relative)

Biography

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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

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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

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  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.
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