Interview with Ani Pihema

Ani Pihema was born near Helensville in 1924. Describes how her mother, Meri Ngaroto, had foster parents and her father, Murray Pihema, was brought up by his mother's family. Mentions his father, Louis Arnoldson, worked on the gumfields. Describes how her own father was gassed during World War I and died of tuberculosis at a young age. Gives early memories of Haranui, their small farm, the old pa and her great grandmother Harata Takare. Talks about their whare, gardens and gardening techniques. Mentions her mother Meri Ngaroto (Molly Williams) went to school at Helensville. Talks about camping holidays on Pahekeheke Island, Sunday School picnics at Shelly Beach, the small Parkhurst School and local spring water. Discusses Maori Pakeha relationships. Mentions Harold Mather. Describes how her mother milked a herd of cows. Discusses the meeting house which had been brought over from Taporoporopo, dismantled, the carvings buried and found again after World War I. Discusses tikanga Maori.

Discusses kinship with Maori across the Kaipara Harbour at Kakanui, Araparera and Puatahi. Discusses tangi. Talks about the tangi of Arthur Povey and the Povey, Hill and Richards families. Discusses a gift of land. Mentions Rev Marsden. Describes her writing of Ngati Whatua history in 1965. Talks about the Orakei meeting house and her grandmother whose second husband owned part of the Otakanini Block. Describes how Orakei was originally Tainui land. Mentions Kiwi Tamaki, Te Tao, Haranui, Tuperiri, the Makirikiri Pa and Waiohua (iwi). Discusses the family interrelationship of Reweti, Haranui and Orakei. Mentions the Orakei Block has been returned to Te Tao. Discusses the settlement of land claims in the early 1900s by the Maori Land Court. Mentions an 1869 land claim and the case of Te Kawau against Waiohua.

Interviewer(s) - Gabrielle Hildreth

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3320.

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLCD-1145 - OHLCD-1146, also digital copies

Copies also held at Helensville Museum and Auckland City Library