DEATH OF CHIEFTAINESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 128, 1 June 1936, Page 15

DEATH OF CHIEFTAINESS

The late Mrs. Karika-Parepumai Te Whetuiti, whose death occurred at Cambridge recently, was buried in the Cambridge Cemetery on Friday. The body had been; lying at Tauwhare, where over 300 Maoris were in camp for the tangi which commenced the previous Sunday. Ten Maori women remained, day and night, in the small open tent which contained the coffin, and where many valuable possessions were displayed. Born at Te Au-o-Waikato, Morrinsville, in 1850, Mrs. Karika was the daughter of a chieftainess of the Ngati Werewere and Ngatipaoa tribes, and her father the paramount chief of the Ngatipaoa tribe. By direct descent she had the right to sit in council with the highest in rank, an honour rarely conferred upon a woman. Mrs. Karika forsook the life of her people at the pa many years ago, and went to live in Cambridge, and in order to bring about greater understanding between Europeans and Maoris she adopted the European methods of living, not forgetting her people who looked to her for help and guidance. She had acquired great wealth by her sound judgment in the administration of the large areas of land bequeathed to her_ by her parents, her estate including many thousands of acres. Unable to read or write, she nevertheless conducted all her own affairs, and her wisdom was appreciated by the Native Land Courts.