Places

Date: 19 Apr 1982-3 Feb 1983 - 19 Apr 1982 - 03 Feb 1983

From: King, Michael (Dr), 1945-2004: Collection

By: Cooper, Whina (Dame), 1895-1994

Reference: OHInt-0514/1

Description: This interview took place over a number of months to provide material for Michael King to write the biography of Whina Cooper at her request. Discusses her family background, her father Heremia Te Wake, a Native Land Court assessor and her mother, Kare Pauro Kawatihi. Notes that she was the first child of her father's second marriage. Discusses her father and his attitude to Pakeha,land and mana. Mentions his friend Sir James Carroll and Sir Maui Pomare. Recalls childhood and schooling at Whakarapa Native School and St Joseph's Maori Girls' College in Napier. Describes working in the local store, becoming a teacher trainee at the Pawarenga Native School and then housekeeper at the Catholic presbytery. Recalls considering becoming a nun but changing her mind over a nun's treatment of a child. Talks about her role in fighting for the preservation of the Whakarapa mudflats, being drained by a Pakeha farmer, at the age of eighteen. Describes her interest in land surveyor Richard Gilbert, marriage to him in 1917, living at her parents' home and the birth of a daughter. Describes both parents' deaths and the need for her young family to move. Recalls living on family land at Te Karaka, the birth of another child and assistance from a priest to buy Heremia Te Wake's home and farm and the local store. Describes paying off the loan and building a new shop, post office, community centre and health clinic while husband Richard Gilbert ran the farm and later bought a second farm. Mentions becoming president of a Panguru branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union and her role in land development in the Hokianga. Comments on Sir Apirana Ngata and legislation enabling Maori to borrow money to clear, drain, grass and fence land. Mentions the establishment of a programme dividing the Hokianga into development schemes and her supervision of the Panguru and Waihou schemes. Talks about the role of senior land consolidation officer William Cooper and the growth of her relationship with him. Talks about the death of husband Richard Gilbert and her intention to marry William Cooper on his divorce. Comments on reaction to this, moving to Kamo with William Cooper and having four more children. Recalls her fund-raising efforts during the war. Describes the return to Panguru of Whina and Bill Cooper after their marriage. Mentions the attempt to organise the building of a meeting house in Panguru. Talks about the death of husband Bill Cooper and going to Auckland. Discusses the beginning of the Maori Women's Welfare League (MWWL) in 1951, her election as President and travelling the country to establish branches. Discusses the work of the League and her role in it. Talks about the establishment of an Auckland urban marae, Te Unga Waka, in 1966. Talks about her health and attitude to medicines. Discusses her involvement in leading the Maori Land March in 1975 and the organisation Te Ropu o te Matakite. Talks about Kupe's discovery of Hokianga harbour. Discusses Father Becker, Archbishop Liston and other Catholic clergy. Talks about custom, carvings and fishing. Interviewer(s) - Michael King Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 5 C90 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - no abstract(s) available.

Date: 14 Nov 1992

From: Hiruharama Oral History Project

By: Hughes, Ivan, active 1988-1992; Hughes, Stephanie, 1938-

Reference: OHInt-0099-13

Description: Stephanie and Ivan Hughes discuss how they came to write a book `Port to Pasture' about the history of Port Awanui and the process they went through compiling information for the book. Outline how they interviewed people in the area, how they used postal records and photographs from police, school and postal records, how they found shipping and other records. Noted that Apirana Ngata left written records of Akuaku. Talked about the Akuaku schoolmaster, the Boyd, Hirtzell and Ellison families, Mentions Akuaku school, Pahou Marae. Venue - Gisborne Interviewer(s) - Monty Soutar Venue - Ivan and Stephanie Hughes' home in Gisborne Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-OO5805b, OHC-005806 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1216b. Search dates: 1992

Date: 14 April 1993

From: Hiruharama Oral History Project

By: Pahau, Hinetiurangi, 1919-1999

Reference: OHInt-0099-10

Description: Hinetiurangi (Tiu) Pahau gives details of her Rongowhakaata and Ngati Maru background, noting that her mother was a granddaughter of Tamihana Ruatapu. Talks about being born and growing up at Manutuke, attending Manutuke Primary school and then being sent to Gisborne Girls High School. Describes the experience of being the first Maori from Manutuke to go to that school and being the only Maori at the school during her time there. Details her employment after school at the Department of Maori Affairs and going nursing until she had a child. Describes Gisborne at the outbreak of WWII. Gives details of her sister Hinehou Te Kani and her marriage to Parekura Tureia. Speaks at length about Parekura, his schooling, rugby playing, relationship with Apirana Ngata, his role in the Territorial force before the war and then in the Maori Battalion as the first Maori commander of C Company. Describes the farewell parade in Gisborne and dance at Poho-o-Rawiri for the main body of the C Company, noting that Tuini Ngawai sang. Details Parekura being killed, names others who died during the war and describes the tangi held for the soliders and for Parekura. Talks about meeting her husband Watene Pahau, members of his family, his being awarded a Military Medal, moving to Whakapaurangi with her son Wally, names her children with Watene and details Watene's employment. Notes that her sons were sent to Presbyterian College at Ruatahuna to get farming education. Describes living at Matahiia Station and later at Taumarunui where she worked for probation and as a prison welfare office before retiring. Gives her views on education, notes that Peter Gordon has completed her whakapapa and recounts memories of friends and growing up at Manutuke. Talks about a car accident and her present health. Venue - Gisborne Interviewer(s) - Monty Soutar Venue - Gisborne Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-005815, OHC-005816a Tape numbers - OHLC-002887, OHLC-002888 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1222A. Search dates: 1993

Date: 30 Jun 1992

From: Women in World War II Part II

By: Rangiihu, Myrtle Tahiti, 1918-2003

Reference: OHInt-0064/20

Description: Myrtle (Bundy) Rangiihu was born at Kohupatiki, Hastings on 29 June 1918. Gives details of her family background and growing up on the farm at Kohupatiki. Describes being selected to learn kowhaiwhai and tukutuku when she left school and being taught these in Wellington by Apirana Ngata. Recalls also learning waiata from him. Discusses his influence and also that of Kingi Tahiwi and Bishop Bennett, the first Bishop of Aotearoa. Notes that Bishop Bennett introduced her to future husband Sam Rangiihu while he was becoming a curate. Talks about the consecration of Bishop Bennett. Recalls the Napier earthquake in 1931 and the incidence of tuberculosis amongst Maori in the 1920s and 1930s. Talks about marrying and living in the Mission House and also working with her husband in the Opotiki and Hicks Bay area. Describes adopting her son Gary, and three other children, and explains the process of whangai (adoption). Talks about the outbreak of war and Sam Rangiihu becoming chaplain to the forces with Wi Huata. Mentions that he was also chaplain to K-Force (in Korea). Comments on the quality of the Maori (28) Battalion and the deaths of Maori soldiers. Discusses American servicemen, sexuality and Maori attitudes to illegitimacy. Describes how her father contracted to grow vegetables for Watties during World War II to feed American soldiers. Talks about the growth of Watties. Describes the importance of land to Maori. Details the Government Rehabilitation Schemes and land bought for soldiers in Wairoa after the war. Reflects on her husband's death. Talks about the importance of the marae. Describes her involvement with the Chadwick Family Trust who run orchards in Hastings and a project growing everlasting flowers. Venue - Napier . 1992 Interviewer(s) - Queenie Rikihana-Hyland Venue - Napier Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004786; OHC-004787; OHC-004788 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 857. photograph of Kingi Ihaka, Bundy (Myrtle) Rangiihu, Manu Ihaka and Samuel Rangiihu about the 1950s; Myrtle and Samuel Rangiihu and family about World War II; Bundy (Myrtle) Rangiihu in 1992