Ngāwini Yates

Ngāwini Yates (1852–1853 – 19 July 1910) was a part-Māori New Zealander, who was a storekeeper, farmer and businesswoman in the far north of New Zealand in the later part of the 19th century.

Early life Ngāwini Yates, also known as Annie, was born Ngāwini Murray around 1852 or 1853 at Pukepoto, near Kaitaia, in the far north of New Zealand. She was the oldest of 15 children born to John Murray, a shipwright who had settled at Pukepoto having immigrated from Europe. Her mother, Kateraina Te Kone, was a Māori of the Te Rarawa iwi (tribe) who also had connections to the Te Aupōuri iwi.

Commercial activity In December 1880, at Mangonui, she married Samuel Yates, a storekeeper who had his premises in the town and a store at Pārengarenga Harbour, close to North Cape. The couple purchased or leased a significant amount of land across the northern part of the Aupouri Peninsula, a total of about 150,000 acres. It is possible that this was achieved on the back of Ngāwini Yates' relationships with her iwi. On this land, much of which the couple converted to pasture, livestock, in the form of cattle, sheep and horses, was stocked. Cottages for their farmer workers were erected, along with other sheds and structures. A jetty was built to allow goods and livestock to be loaded onto ships for transportation south to Auckland. The portion of the property that was leased was restored to its Te Aupōuri owners while the remainder, about 68,000 acres, was sold.