MAORI CHIEF'S DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20427, 2 December 1929, Page 14

MAORI CHIEF'S DEATH.

A PROMINENT FIGURE, LINK WITH TAMAKI DISTRICT. A prominent Maori chief, Napi Wirihana Takanini, died on Friday. Ho was a lineal chief of tho Waiohua people, who, with tho Ngaifai, wero tho original owners of the Tamaki district. Napi was a grandson of the famous Ihaka Takanini, a chief whoso friendly attitude was of great assistance to tho sottlers up until tho outbreak of tho Waikato War. On tho evo of the war fho chiefs of the Tamaki district were required by the Government to give an assurance of loyalty. Ihaka refused, partly on principle and partly because ho was awaiting advice from tho Maori king, To Wberowhero, and lio was placed under supervision on Motuhurakia Island, whoro ho lived and died an exilo, a Maori Napoleon on his littlo St. Hplona. Napi, who was educated at tho Threo Kings' College, was well known throughout tho district. Ho had been very active in his early life, and was a fino specimen of Maori manhood, but of recent years ho had been in illhealth. Ho was to havo attended tho Maori function at tho War Memorial Museum on Friday, but was provented by illness, and died suddenly tho same afternoon at the villago homo of Pukaki. A tangi will bo held this week. It will bo attended by many prominent Maoris.