TE KOOTI'S FRIEND

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 62, 15 March 1933, Page 10

TE KOOTI'S FRIEND

MAORI FIGHTER'S DEATH

The right-hand man of the famous Te Kooti, namely, Tamahana te Ao, better known as "Dad Thompson," died at Tolaga Bay during the weekend at the great age of 94 years, reports the Gisborne correspondent of the "Auckland Star." He was born on the East Coast and linked up with Te Kooti when only a youth, taking part in the great uprising and fighting at Waerenea-a---haka and Ngatape. As first lieutenant to Te Kooti, he was brought back from imprisonment with him and others of the following in 1864 from Chatham Islands, and landed at Whareongaonga, near Gisborne. fighting followed immediately. With the cessation of hostilities Tamahana returned to the coast and settled down at Hauiti pa, where for many years he had been an outstanding figure among the Maoris. He was a fluent speaker, and throughout his life exercised great influence upon his fel-low-tribesmen.

_ Tamahana's first wife died in the sixties, and he was forced to return to Tolaga Bay. When his father settled at Paramata pa permanently, nine years after landing from the Chathams, Tamahana renounced the Hauhau Teligion and embraced the Anglican faith, having acted since then as a lay.reader among his own race. Tamahana married a second time, Te Bipeka Awata, from Waiheke Island, Auckland, Of eight children two are still alive. There were twenty grandchildren, fourteen of whom are living, and nine great-grand-children, seven of ivhom are still alive.

With the passing of this redoubtable Maori warrior one more link with. Te Kooti is severed and the pak'eha, as well as the Maori, loses a sincere religious worker and friend.