St Josephs Waihi Convent School, Waihi Bay, Lake Taupo

"In 1910, [Merania] went to Little Waihi School.  They were living in Tokaanu" (1).  Her Grandchildren confirm that this was a reference to the Convent School at Waihi.  This convent was set up under the auspices of J.W.Smiers who built a presbytery and the Church of St Werenfrid at Waihi.  In 1904 Edward Bruning built a school and convent at Tokaanu.  He was assisted by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart who arrived in 1905 to staff the school.  The school was  shifted from Tokaanu to Waihi about 1910. (2) This is undoubtedly the school that she attended until she left the area in 1914, to live in Tawata with Titi Tihu.

(1) Tom Teika, correspondence to Janey Teika 2001
(2) NZ Encyclopedia - Te Ara, Langerwerf, Adrian Cornelius

Screen shot : Google Earth of the Waihi Area

Waihi Marae (Tapeka) and St Werenfrids Church, WAIHI, Southern Shores of Lake Taupo

Tokaanu Township - Investigation of Title 1899

Te Heuheu Tukino V. Tureiti

TOKAANU TOWNSHIP
(TAUPO MINUTE BOOK 13)
Investigation of Title
11 April, 1899

Te Heuheu Tukino sworn (Taupo 13/355)


The hapus claiming to whom the committee have agreed

• Ngati Kurauia
• Ngati Raumai
• Ngati Tiherau
• Ngati Te Aho
• Ngati Pou
• Ngati Turangi

NGATI KURAUIA
1. Herekiekie the elder
2. Hare Tauteka,
3. Takuira Tauteka,
4. Pauriuri Karamu,
5. Katarina Pauriuri
6. Nikora Whakapu,
7. Te Umutarehu,
8. Ngatere Take,
9. Tewha ?,
10. Hohepa Tauramutu ?,
11. Tarei Te Uaki,
12. Rauiri Te Raupeherawea,
13. Hoaua Waipoporo,
14. Te Puha,
15. Rorakuia,
16. Raureti Pekorangi,
17. Te Poinga Te Arakai,
18. Pahoro,
19. Pikirangi,
20. Te Waikomanawa.

NGATI RAUWAI
1. Rawerekaku
2. Haiehu
3. Te Ketehuia
4. Hariata
5. Te Aui
6. Oru
7. Te Marotoa

NGATI TIHERAU
1. Te Whakararangi,
2. Whatawhata,
3. Wi Tauteka,
4. Mokiao.

The first three are dead, Mokiao is alive.

NGATI TE AHO
1. Te Papeuiui ? ,
2. Te Takina,
3. Parekawakawa,
4. Te Rangipahoka (all dead)

NGATI POU
1. Ruu uku,
2. Te Hauiuti I ? both dead.
3. Te Hauiuti II
4. Parekarangi Marotoa.  (last two are living).

NGATI TURANGI
1. Tautahanga- living
2. Akuira Te Pohoi- living
3. Hakaraia – dead
4. Mihipeka – dead
5. Heruao – dead
6. Wikitoria – dead
7. Rakera – dead
8. Aporua – dead
9. Mihaeri – living
10. Te Hakauta Te Huia – living
11. Te Wharekaihua – dead
12. Te Arahou – dead
13. Ripeka Te Kahuwaero – dead

These are all.

The Committee have not yet completed. They may find it necessary to withdraw some of the names where they are husband and wife, as the children will be the same. Certain of the names are also objected to and we cannot say if such objections will be sustained or withdrawn. And it may be found also that some of the persons have been omitted. The committee have arranged that although some of the persons whose names are given belong to more than one of the hapus, yet their names are only to go in once but the different hapu rights to which they are entitled will be secured to them under the definition of shares.

In the case of Herekiekie what he is entitled to is settled – the first is the mara called
1. Te Korokoro a te Poinga
2. Perepeka – a mara

The boundaries are known.  There are others.  The boundaries of which are not decided but they no doubt will.  The “Hare Tauteka” family own,
1. Te Haitapu a-mara.  Boundaries known
2. Piripekapeka, a mara.
3. Te Pohue, a mara.

And so on in other cases. It is not necessary now to give them.  I am confident if the Court gives us time, say a week we can so arrange matters, that no further delay will be necessary.

Court agrees to give sufficient time – and adjourn court till tomorrow – advising them if not completed – it will not be necessary for all to come to court, but said one person only to notify court.

With reference to the other cases I mentioned we have gone into some of them and they will be ready this week.  As to the township we have completed one stage,  That is so far as the interest of the heads of families mentioned yesterday have been arranged. That is locating the part to which each is entitled and can place these on the plan, from which the approximate share of each may be gathered.  Today we intend to have arranged other matters.

There being nothing else Court is adjourned to 10.00am tomorrow.

Monday 17th April 1899
Present and Place the Same
Court opened at 10a.m

Tokaanu Township

Te Heuheu.
The Court knows that the principal reason for which the owners asked for time till today was to enable them to so arrange matters so as to be able to come before the Court with a definite complete proposal and glad to say this is done, and they are ready now with that. But there is another proposal necessary that is to mark on the plan the various parts to which each head of family is entitled.  Did they ask court for this day to enable them to do this.  We propose to go over the ground and whether to find sufficient data on the pegs to go by to enable us to arrive at all approximation that being completed we shall find each list under the respective heads which will not take long, where these are done we, with the help of the court to enable us to complete shares, we shall there have completed.

Heperi Pikirangi
I had a case in this which I have withdrawn which I will bring before the Court.

Tuesday April 18th 1899
Court opened at 10.00am
Tokaanu Township

Te Heuheu produces plan on which is laid down roughly the different places owned by the respective heads of families – a small part remains yet unfinished, which they are desirous of finishing.  After which the calculation of such areas may be made by the court.  They are unable to go into any of the other blocks till this matter is completed.

Wednesday April 19th 1899
Court opened at 10.00am
Tokaanu Township

Te Heuheu Tukino
We ask the court to define the area to which each head of family is entitled as we have marked them all on the plan and they only now require calculating (only that and nothing more).  When that is done, the only thing remaining is to hand in a list of names under each head and that will not we anticipate present any difficulty and whilst the Court is engaged in this calculation, we will have the lists prepared.

As the calculating these areas will be a matter of some considerable time, the court is again adjourned till tomorrow.

Friday 21st April 1899
Present and Place – The Same
Court opened at 10 a.m

Tokaanu Township

Te Heuheu – The court may remember that we pointed out at the beginning that it might be that other hapus would be included.  We now wish to have it recorded that we have formed another take, and we want the hapu of Waikari included.

N' Waikari
1. Hare Tauteka
2. Herekiekie
3. Takuira Tauteka

These three are included in N'Karauia and we want them recovered from that and included herein. There is another name also that of Tukaki Whati.

Court engaged all day in completing areas of the different sections – and copy given to Te Heuheu.
5 pm. Court adjourned to 10.00am tomorrow.

Saturday 22nd April 1899
Present & Place – The Same
Court opened at 10.00am

Tokaanu Township
Te Heuheu Tukino

We have given a copy of the areas of the different sections to each person interested and we hope to have the list of names and shares to subject to the court on Monday. Court Adjourned to Monday.

Monday 24th April 1899
Present & Place – the Same
Court opened at 10.00am
Tokaanu Township

Te Heuheu Tukino

The list of names is now complete with shares and if Heperi Pikirangi had not indicated his intention of setting up a case, we should ask the Court  to complete it by confirmation.  Some alterations have been made out for each would be a little there to but the Committee have all agreed to this list and shares, and no other objector than Heperi Pikirangi is known to us.

List handed in and names and shares read out.

Objectors

Te Haitawa Te Hiika claims admission the of Kurauia Raumai and Waikari lists for herself and her children.

Heperi Pikirangi claims admission in the Kurauia and Waikari lists for himself, his brothers and children.

Te Mitiotu wants to have the list read out as he has only just come.

Kingi Herekiekie: Hang up the list of names for Tokaanu.  The Committee has not yet finished.  The shares are not yet finished for these.  I object to the shares given – I dont know what shares they should have.  I have not made up my mind what they ought to get.

Kingi Ngaruruei claims admission that the descendants of Huia should be included in Te Puhas list.

Akuira Te Pohoi : I claim admission for my children.

Tarihira Ngarimu : wants to know the position of the quarter area in No.1 where shes still an owner or whether she does not.

Te Pouinga a Toki :  I kept my name out so that my children could be put in, but only one child was put in.  I want the other three children put in and the shares divided among them.  Alterations made accordingly.

Te Tau Paranihi : Claims admission for herself and his wife at Te Kakiwhati hapu.

Court directs parties to confer till 2 o'clock.

Kingi Herekiekie

With reference to Te Tukaki whati.  Take not passed, because it has been apportioned such a small piece in other cases particular parts have not been awarded in the Tokaanu township whereas in this case it has been done.  Secondly – My own list of names – I ask that he read over.  I laid this before the Committee and I asked them for a refund of the money I am out of pocket since the first inception of this matter at Wellington.

Court indicates to huis if he is dissatisfied with anything in the list he should have set up a case and the let the court have something it can understand.

Te Heuheu

Neither the people nor the court can understand what this old man wants and nobody therefore takes any notice of what he says – as to the apportionments to Te Tukaki Whati this is what has been considered correct by the Court and thoses under that take are satisfied.

Te Tau Parauihi has withdrawn his claim in that take and leaves.  Eruini Parauihi and Pura Rora to represent that claim. He has gone home and disputed me before the Committee to represent him.

Tau Parauihi called does not appear.

Taupo 13/381

Heperi Pikirangi Sworn :
(List of names claimed for handed in – 25 Names)

My Name is Heperi Pikirangi.  I live at Patea. I know this land before the Court.  I claim my rights to certain maras and another place outside of the maras.

Q.  What are your takes
A.  Ancestry, Ahika and permanent Occupation.  My Ancestor was Raumai.

Insert Whakapapa Taupo 1 & 2


Some of these names I have given are already in the list.  Rawiris children and wharepapas children and Waiuikau's children are in (Te Heuheu says no but their Mother is).

TO BE CONTINUED

Kaperiere Parahi - Our Missing Pieces

Merania was born in 1900 at Tawata, but grew up in Tokaanu, and went to school in Little Waihi.  Her Father was Kaperiere, known as Peri Parahi.  In an account to her son, Tom Teika; Merania said that her father had been  initially captured by Te Kere Ngataierua (Prophet & Founder of the Pae tiuihou movement), but in due course became one of his followers/disciples; and that he possibly married one of Te Kere's daughters.

It is interesting to note that Te Kere spent two years in Tokaanu; and history tells that the movement itself was first established there, between 1883 - 1885.  He was brought in as a peacemaker, and was given land to use for his own purposes while he was there.  This land was at Little Waihi

The Investigation of the Title of the Tokaanu Block took place in April 1899.  One year before Merania was born.  Its assumed that Kaperiere would have had to have been present during the court case, to warrant inclusion on the list of owners.  However, Merania states she was born in Tawata, so her Mother was there in any case.  Also noteworthy, is Te Kere's death date of 1901, at Tawata (aged 80 years old).

Merania's birthplace is a minor clue to the identity of her Mother; and to further track the origins of her father.  The inclusion of Peri as an owner in the Tokaanu Township means he was definitely one of the hapuu of Southern Tuwharetoa.

Missing Pieces
(1)  The identity of Kaperiere Parahi's Parents; and tracing his hapuu. 
(2)  Any relevant family information. 

A search for Tureiti Te Rangi

UPDATES IN BLUE : 
UPDATE TITLE to reflect something about the Ngati Tuwharetoa occupation at Kaitieke (Retaruke).

As mentioned in the previous blog, Tureiti Te Rangi was appointed Trustee for Whakaue Peri and Arapeta Peri.  This blog is specifically for information that could establish the kinship link between Kaperiere Parahi and Tureiti Te Rangi; and to explain why this man was appointed as their trustee, when their father deceased.

The actual kinship relationship has not yet been established, but I have found out since writing this blog that Tureiti Te Rangi was a follower of Te Kere, as was Kaperiere.  

According to Karanga Te Kere, her father - Te Kere returned from Rangitikei in 1892.   The Tokaanu people arrived at Tawata in 1894 (a description that included Tureiti).   Te Kere sent them to occupy the land at Kaitieke [Section 39 & Section 41] also known as Retaruke.   A large meeting house 'Paetiuihau' once stood there.   An Urupa was also there.   Kingi Poni (of Ngati Tuwharetoa) removed the building and re-erected it at Sec.39, Kaitieke.   Ownership of the previous location passed into Pakeha hands.   Kaperiere and Wehikore both lived there at Kaitieke, although at some stage they may have lived or stayed at Te Rauwhare as Whanau korero states that Merania's whenua (afterbirth/placenta) was buried at the base of some trees there.   Karanga further stated that after Wehikore and Kaperiere died, their children lived with Tureiti.  

Wehikore died in 1904 and Kaperiere died in 1909.  This would explain why he was the trustee for Whakaue Peri (Hughie) and Maraenui Peri (Albert) and  their land interests in the Tokaanu township block.   When they were older, they lived at Tawhata on the Education Reserve.   Karanga stated that it was believed that the land might be given back and it is why they remained/occupied there.  


In a radio interview, Te Reiti Grace  (nee Weatherly), gave an account of the time that her family also lived at Kaitieke, with Te Kere's following.  Her parents were Tamara Mihiterina and a Pakeha surveyor named Weatherly. They had come from Papakai on the shores of Lake Rotoaira, near Tokaanu. She gave account of how her Father went missing on a pig hunting expedition while they lived at Kaitieke and that Tureiti and a Pakeha went to search for him.    After her father died, though it is not clear whether he died at Kaitieke, she was taken back to Papakai and raised by Ngapera and Keepa Puataata.  Ngapera was Tureiti's sister.

The following table is constructed from details of Te Reiti's interview, here is a link to the notes.

The table needs to be updated with the following :  
Tureiti Te Rangi was the son of Rangikaiamokura and his wife, Hingaia Huruao.
Tureiti said he lived at Kaitieke permanently since 1902 (Stated in 1922).




Sources :

Te Reiti Grace - Notes of the Radio Interview

15 ATK (Tokaanu) MB 184 - 196 - Investigation of title for Sec 39 & 41, Blk X, Kaitieke SD, Retaruke Block.

Herena Waretini - Trustee

As said in the previous blog - Kaperiere Parahi (sucession), Herena Waretini was made the trustee for Merania, and so the present pursuit is establishing what the kinship relationship between Herena and Merania was.  The following genealogy table was made from various sources; ancestry.com, LDS IGI, and myheritage.com

An interesting point to note here, is that Herena's Mother's name was Merania, who was born in 1848 in Kawerau, there is an existence of a descent group known as Ngati Tuwharetoa Ki Kawerau.  They are a distinct group, who through intermarriage have become merged with Ngati Awa and Tuhoe.

Genealogy table made by Author

According to an account by Nona Teika; her mother Merania Peri was a first cousin to the "first Jim Ham".  This further supports that notion that Herena Waretini or Herena Ham, as she was later known; was indeed a close relative of Merania's, the first Jim Ham I, is a brother to the siblings of Herena listed in the table above.  The full list of Ham children are in the table below.  It is from the Gates Website, Morris Gates is a descendant of Herana, through her eldest son Materoa William Ham.  Their Family tree does not go back further than Herana.

Screen Shot from the GATES WEB SITE

The following note was found online at the "Whakapapa Club". The user "twilight" is obviously referring to Herena Waretini; and the reference to her being from Tuhoe could well be, a reference to Ngati Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau.  Herena Waretini was an owner in the Tokaanu Township, a block of Maori Land that was dependant on whakapapa and mana whenua for inclusion therein. 

So - Herena obviously had a Tuwharetoa link, though her Mother Merania was born in Kawerau.

  

Extract from Waitangi tribunal report for KAHUI MAUNGA

Kaperiere Parahi - Sucession Order 1911

Kaperiere Parahi - known also as "PERI", died in August 1909.  On 23 September 1911; Tureiti Te Rangi appeared in court for a sucession order for Peri's interest in the TOKAANU TOWNSHIP to his four children; Pakira, Whakaue, Arapeta and Merania.  At the time; Pakira was the only issue who was an Adult.  The other three were all minors and so were appointed trustees.  Tureiti Te Rangi was appointed trustee for Whakaue and Arapeta, and Herena Waretini was appointed trustee for Merania. The basic assumption here, is that both trustees were probably related to Peri.

Extract from Minute Book

We are able to ascertain birth year estimates from the above minutes.  Pakira (1890), Whakaue (1893), Arapeta (1898), Merania (1900).

Copies of Trustee orders