The family often used the surnames Te Kanawa, taken from their grandfather, and Te Rakaherea, taken from their grand uncle. Descended from the Ngati Te Ra hapu of Ngati Toa, Hemi Tiapo was the second son of Waitaoro Te Kanawa and James Cootes Sen. Born at Paremata in 1840 (probably in Toms whaling station or the adjacent Ngati Te Ra pa of his mother's people) he later lived with his parents on Kapiti Island, at Waiorua. With his father and older brother, Tame, he was a shearer on Kapiti and along the coast. He later became a policeman in Otaki, was said to be a famed wrestler, and was a noted authority on the history of his people. He married Eliza Lawton and had about 13 children. Two of his sisters, Harata and Haana, were married to the Ngati Toa chief Wineera Te Kanae. He died in 1913 aged 73 years. See also Otaki Historical Society Journal Vol 5 1982.
Cootes, James, 1840-1913
Legal and financial papers
Date: [1901]
From: Field, William Hughes, 1861-1944 : Papers
Reference: 73-128-171
Description: Various documents including correspondence and receipts; identified persons entered under Name. Includes several documents in Maori; note re Ramari relating to her land share return, letter re the return of Whitireia school reserve and letter to Mrs Moore re Waikakaho land from W G H Baillie. Language - Many documents in Maori (untranslated) Quantity: 1 folder(s).
H T Whatahoro Jury - Maori Land Court note book
Date: 1900-1909
From: Maori Purposes Fund Board : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-0189-B005
Description: Contains verbatim evidence from sittings of the Maori Land Court at Otaki and in the South Island to hear subdivision and succession cases, with details of land ownership and occupation, whakapapa and ancestral rights, pa and mahinga kai and notes about current use of land; a letter to Te Whatahoro from his daughter is also included Enclosures - 1 page letter dated Maehe 12 1907 inserted in the beginning of book Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Marbled boards, 33 cm., vol numbered 3
H T Whatahoro Jury - Whakapapa book
Date: 1900-1904
From: Maori Purposes Fund Board : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-0189-124
Description: Contains whakapapa, with particular reference to Ngati Raukawa and Ngati Toa and shows relationship to the Kingitanga, waiata, and notes about the migration of Ngati Apa from the Whakatane area to Rangitikei, and notes about the Kurahaupo canoe (passengers etc) Also contains notes about conflicts involving Wairarapa hapu Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss
Legal files
Date: 1908-1911
From: Field, William Hughes, 1861-1944 : Papers
Reference: 73-128-018
Description: Identified persons and firms entered under Name; also includes receipts and telegrams not entered and part of financial summary Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Miscellaneous Maori clippings and printed matter
Date: [1930]-1998
From: McEwen, Jock Malcolm, 1915-2010: Collection
Reference: MS-Papers-6717-125
Description: Clippings on aspects of Maori and local history; the origin of Maori; diamond wedding of Mr and Mrs J W Powell of Petone; the Howell home at Wharemauku (Raumati Beach) (1949); newsletter, the Proprietors of Mangakino township (Dec 1981); photographs of Maori entertaining Commonwealth Parlimentary delegates; obituaries for Kingi Tahiwi; article on the Tahiwis; clipping, Maori implements at Seatoun 1909); Wairarapa pendant; newspaper article by Hemi Kuti (James Cootes jnr) about the attempted by Muaupoko to slay Te Rauparaha at Te Wi (Ohau, Horowhenua). Maori myths of the kotuku Howell House at Raumati Beach was formerly known as the Howell House of Wharemauku (owned by the Howell family and later the Maclean family) Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Legal and financial papers
Date: [1910]
From: Field, William Hughes, 1861-1944 : Papers
Reference: 73-128-180
Description: Various documents including correspondence, notes and receipts; identified persons entered under Name. Includes documents in Maori; receipt, E W Barber, butchers re [?] Wharanui. Language - Many documents in Maori (untranslated) Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Studio group portrait of Hemi Kuti Te Kanawa and family : Ko matou me a matou tamariki,...
From: Wineera family :Photographs of Te Rauparaha Wineera and other members of the Wineera and Cootes families
Reference: 1/2-181942-F
Description: Group family portrait of Hemi and Raiha Kuti and family. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s) (copy of original print returned to owner). Physical Description: Cellulose triacetate negative 125 x 100 mm
Wineera and Cootes family photographs titled "Ko matou me a matou tamariki, mokopuna hoki"
Date: [190-?]
From: Wineera family :Photographs of Te Rauparaha Wineera and other members of the Wineera and Cootes families
Reference: 1/2-181940-F
Description: A collection of family studio portraits set in a hand decorated mat board surrounded by a finely carved frame. The frame was carved by Piwiki Horahau of Ngati Toa and Ngati Raukawa descent at the time he carved the meeting house Toa Rangatira ca 1900. The mat board is titled "Ko matou me a matou tamariki mokopuna", with two shields set at each side. The shield on the right reads "Ko Wiremu Neera Te Kanae i whanau ki taupo wahi o Porirua Tihema 25 1845". The other shield reads "Ko Haana Wi Neera i whanau ki Otaki i te 17 o nga ra o Maehe 1861". There are four (4) family portraits and two (2) individual portraits mounted with the matt board. The family group photos are 1. Wineera Te Kanae and Haana Wineera and family; 2. Hemi Kuti Te Kanawa and Raiha Lawton and family; 3. Hanikamu Te Hiko and Ngawaina Hanikamu and family; 4. Hera Mita Anaru (nee Cootes) and Hami Mita Anaru Tuhokairangi and family. The individual portraits are (right of picture) Wi Mekerei Rawiri, a nephew of Wineera Te Kanae, and Rawiri Mihaka, probably another nephew. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s) (copy of original print returned to owner). Physical Description: Cellulose triacetate negative 12.5 x 10 cm
Cazneau & Connolly :Cootes family
Date: [1882 or 1883]
From: Metekingi, Claire (Mrs) :Photographs relating to Ngati Toa and Takapuwahia Marae, Porirua.
By: Cazneau and Connolly (Firm)
Reference: 1/2-181512-F
Description: Cabinet card portrait of the Cootes family of Porirua and Otaki, taken 1882 or 1883 by Cazneau & Connolly of Wellington. The picture depicts the Cootes (or Kuti) family in a studio setting. The man is almost certainly Hemi Tiapo Kuti, or James Cootes jnr, pictured with his sisters Haana (standing straight) and Hera (leaning on ballustrade). The woman seated at Hemi's feet is possibly Hemi's wife Raiha Lawton. James Cootes was an English whaler who worked from shore based whaling operations in the South Island and Kapiti. James eldest daughter, Hariata Wi Kerei (see pacoll-4813), was born at Wairau about 1830. She died at Otaki in 1926 aged 96. After moving to the Kapiti district James married Waitaoro Te Kanawa of Ngati Toa to whom he had five children, Tame, Hemi, Harata, Hera, Haana. Tame and Harata both died early in their adulthood, leaving families in both cases. James continued to whale from Kapiti Island, at Waiorua, and at Paremata, Porirua, where his eldest sons were born. Both sons, Tame and Hemi, are recorded shearing with their father in the district during the 1850s and 1860s. James Cootes Snr also had a family with Waitaoro's cousin Wharekiri (Ngati Toa). This family is often referred to as Reweti-Cootes. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulose triacetate copy negative