Career
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 1884 election.
Of eight candidates, he came last with 5.5% of the vote. In the Western Maori 1886 by-election, he came fourth out of five candidates.
He represented the Northern Maori electorate from 1887 to 1890 when he died, aged about 55. He had been re-elected in 1890 for Northern Maori, but died on election day.
He also stood in Eastern Maori, and came second.
