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.