Waata Pihikete Kūkūtai became a Ngāti Tīpā leader following the death of his father (also named Kūkūtai), in 1846. His mother was Oeroa and he was married twice, to Rangi Herarunga and Rangihaia.

Kūkūtai converted to Christianity in 1839 and took the name Waata (Walter). Later, he was also known as Waata Pihikete Kūkūtai.

Kūkūtai opposed the plans of the Kīngitanga to name a king, gaining the trust of Governor George Grey who appointed him as an assessor, for which he received an annual salary of £50. When Grey’s British forces invaded the Waikato in July 1863, Kūkūtai threw his support behind the government. For this, he was made an officer in the New Zealand militia with the rank of major and his salary was tripled.

In December 1866, Kūkūtai wrote to Bishop Selwyn stating that, depressed after the death of his wife, he had taken poison and would shortly die. He was removed to Waiuku, where he died on 8 January 1867, at the estimated age of 45.¹

Lindauer’s portrait is based on an undated photograph by William Henry Reed.  While Kūkūtai’s clothing is  wholly European, his mataora distinguishes him as a tāne Māori of significant mana. He wears an ‘undress’ patrol jacket – the informal everyday uniform worn by soldiers – trimmed with braid, worn over a high-collared red military waistcoat, finished with gold thread, and underneath a white shirt tied at the throat with a thin bow-tie. On his collar are badges representing St Edward’s Crown, marking him as a soldier in the service of Queen Victoria, and two stars that, along with the braid, signal his rank.