MAORI CHIEF DEAD

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 April 1922, Page 2

MAORI CHIEF DEAD

PICTURESQUE PERSONALITY. In the person of Noka Hukanui, one of the fast diminishing band of veteran Maori chieftains has passed over to the great majority. Noka’s death occurred on Friday at historic little Maori village of Awataha (Shoal Bay) (states the Auckland “Herald”). Born of Ngati-Apakura parentage in the Kawhia district, Noka passed his earlier boyhood years there, near the historic spot where landed his Tainua ancestors from Hawaiki in 135 A.D. From Apakura, his ancestress of that migration, Noka claimed a high lineal descent, and through her and many famous men of tho olden days he was related to all the prominent chiefs of these' districts. In early youth he accompanied his parents to Waitemata (as Auckland was then known). Later ho lived some years with them at the Mangere pa, where the Waikato head chief Potatau had made his headquarters.

Noka was present at the tribal assembly at Ngaruawahia in 1858. when the Maori Ringite party was initiated and Potatau was elected King. From that time he was a staunch “Ringite,” and when the Waikato war broke out—though yet a mere lad—he joined his riders in the fray, being present at many of tho fights throughout that prolonged campaign, which ended in the final capture of the last Maori stronghold at Orakau in 1864. With his Ngati-Apakura and other Kingito tribes, Noka thereafter lived for some years in the seclusion of the ‘Rohepotae,” as the King Country was then known. When Rewi Maniapoto (the Maori general and leader at Orakau) made his formal visit to Auckland as a token of peace, Noka was in his retinue, and subsequently joined his local relatives at Awataha.

Noka was a brilliant and convincing orator. His speeches were classic iu their way, and were always an important item at Maori political assemblies His influence was very great among his people in favour of law? and order and the general good. During the European war no fewer than some 40 of his younger people (nephews and grandnephews) served at the front, and many of them laid down their lives. The deceased chief was very widely respected among all classes of both the European and Maori races, not only in the Northcote, but generally throughout the Auckland and Waikato districts. Noka was pre-deceased some four months by his wife, who was of high rank, also of the Ngati-Apakura tribe.