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