Takahiwai Chief Dies In Accordance With Ancient Custom

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1942, Page 4

Takahiwai Chief Dies In Accordance With Ancient Custom

After an exhaustive search lasting five days, the discovery was made at 1.30 this afternoon of the body of the chief of the Takahiwai settlement, Mr. Maki Pirihi.

The body was suspended by the reins of a rope bridle from a puriri tree in dense bush about two miles from the settlement, from which he disappeared early on Thursday morning.

The horse upon which he had been seen making in the direction of the bush returned later without its rider or the rope reins. The manner in which the body was found by Mr. T. Colthart and a party of searchers lends colour to the belief that Mr. Pirihi, who was aged over 70 years, had acted in accordance with traditional tribal laws, whereby an ageing chief would go into the bush and tie himself to a puriri tree.

His mother, the famed chieftainess Pauhou, at the age of 112, disappeared for 30 hours, and was found in a state of prostration lying in the undergrowth not far from the settlement. She died shortly afterwards.

Maoris have been known to exist for 10 days without food or water, and when Mr. Pirihi’s family and near relatives commenced the search on Thursday high hopes were entertained. Finding no trace of the missing man, they informed Constables Rimmer and Yeoward, who organised an extension of operations. Great Tangi Begins

Inspector J. Fox also visited the locality, which, he stated this morning, consisted of dense bush and growth covering the hills in the vicinity of the settlement, and naturally thorough search was difficult in some places. Mr. Pirihi’s general health for some time past has not been good, it is stated.

After discovery of the body this afternoon, several parties with whom communication could not be established continued the search.

The body was brought by sledge into Takahiwai. where natives have been gathering since last Thursday for what will be one of the biggest tangis the North has known.

Ever since he attained the age of 25 years, Mr. Pirihi had been regarded as cf chief’s estate, and since the death of his father of the same name his authority had been regarded as paramount, not only by the people of Takahiwai, but among the Maoris of a much wider district. Than Mr. Pirihi himself there was no more respected and honourable man in the Middle North; quiet, courteous, a wise leader of his people, he typified everything that is best in the aristocratic Maori. One of his sons is missing in Greece.