The sketches are presented in three groups (1) He Moemoea (Dreams), (2) Political cartoons and (3) Pai Marire images.

1.   He Moemoea

This group of four drawings (1A, 1B, 1C and 1D) are all in pencil and, coloured in reddish-brown tones. The originals are not clear and have not reproduced well, so a line drawing has been provided as a key. The full significance of these drawings can not be worked out as they appear to be part of an incomplete sequence. From the style of drawing and handwriting they are by the one artist. They are also specifically related to the Tauranga district. There was an established ship building industry in Tauranga and a good deal of coastal trading so the drawings of a ship (Kaipuke) would have a basis in local reality. In 1B, the ship on Tauranga Moana appears to be a rough sketch map of Tauranga Harbour and a suggested identification of land areas is provided in the key diagram. Poutihi in 1D is the Minden Peak, a prominent hill top in the Te Puna district of Tauranga, not far from Poripori where the sketches were found. This name has survived in Cpoutihi Survey District, which covers this area.

One prevalent theme is the use of red - the red cloud (He Kurae Kapua) in 1A and the red sails reflected in Tauranga Moana in IB. This red is probably symbolic of the Pakeha, of blood, of evil. The red cloud of 1A and the flock of birds may also be related to Pai Mari re images of the miraculous cloud which will descend from heaven to observe the faithful and help them disperse the Pakeha troops sent against them. Or perhaps it may be interpreted as the red cloud of the Pakeha, threatening to envelope the Maori people and their leader. It is tempting to view the dream of the canoe resting on Poutihi in 1D as another millenial image, but there is no conclusive evidence provided in the drawing. Below the hull of the canoe, what appears to be trees and tree ferns are lightly drawn in pencil. The hull of the canoe is painted brown, and spiral patterns on the prow and stern post are drawn in pencil to indicate a traditional style of canoe (waka). The dark smudges at the top appear to be red ink and not part of the original work.

The significance of 1C remains obscure as the identity of Te Tuhi is not clear. A prominent Kingite chief of the time was Patara Te Tuhi, who edited the newspaper Te Hokioi but he belonged to the lower Waikato. A Tauranga tradition has it that Te Tuhi was a chief of Okauia. In the investigation of the Okauia Block by the Land Court in 1879 no one of this name is mentioned either in evidence of tribal history or the list of names of people in this and adjacent blocks. However, there was an area in the block called Te Tuhi. In the evidence, (Waikato MB 4/23) it was said that Ngati Hinerangi went to live at Matamata with Ngati Haua and they “ got food from Okauia, they cultivated at Te Tuhi ” . Following the judgement on Okauia which was awarded to Ngati Hinerangi, Ngati Haua occupied part of the block, and built a pa called Te Tuhi (Bay of Plenty Times 8 July 1879). Following the 1864 battles, a track from Te Puna to Okauia was cut and called Te Tuhi Track and used by Pirirakau and Ngati Haua and others in preference to the old Wairere Track further west. Following the Tauranga Bush Campaign many Pirirakau and some other Tauranga people retreated to Okauia, but returned later to their settlements at Whakamarama and Te Puna.