Interview with Ripeka Anderson

Ripeka Anderson was born at Otorohanga on 27 July 1921. Gives her iwi as Ngati Maniapoto and hapu as Ngati Uekaha. Describes starting school at the age of eight at Hauturu near Kawhia. Talks about her tupuna who were Pai Marire. Notes that she became Methodist and her husband was a member of the Ratana faith. Describes food and fuel gathering and the family's punga house.

Recalls the beginning of war and details of some of her relatives who went overseas with the Maori Battalion. Talks about women working on farms as land girls and her involvement in knitting, spinning and sending food parcels to the soldiers. Recalls dances with Maori bands and smoking straw and torori. Describes tolerance towards the birth of illegitimate children during the war. Discusses attitudes towards Maori going to war and mentions Te Puea. Talks about the wartime experience of husband to be Aterea Anihana in Greece and Crete, the medals he received and his return to New Zealand before the end of the war with tuberculosis, on the hospital ship `Oranje'. Recalls meeting him and their marriage before he went to a sanatorium.

Describes their post war life in Bennydale. Describes his work in the mine and later the cement works. Talks about their family, race relations and involvement in organisations including Maori Women's Welfare League and the school Board of Governors. Describes her husband's deteriorating health, amputation of his legs and some difficulty in getting war compensation.

Talks about Kingitanga, poukai (the growing and giving of food) and the marae. Talks about retirement to Te Kuiti, being a kaumatua on the marae and involvement with the Iwi Transition Authority and Maniapoto Runanga. Comments on the importance of grandparents and parents.

Venue - Te Kuiti : 1992

Interviewer(s) - Queenie Rikihana-Hyland

Venue - Te Kuiti

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004789; OHC-004790; OHC-004791

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 858.