SKELETON FOUND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23052, 1 June 1938, Page 12

SKELETON FOUND

WAIRAU MASSACRE LINK VICTIM OF BRITISH BULLET REBURIAL BY DESCENDANTS [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] BLENHEIM, Tuesday According to statements made by descendants of Te Ronga, a Maori woman whose death from a British bullet led to the Wairau massacre, it appears certain that remains found near Massacre Hill last week by Main Highways Board workmen are those of Te Ronga. A number of Maoris living in the Wairu Pa claim relationship with Te Ronga, and one, Here Herangi, stated that his eldest brother, Graham Herangi, who died 30 years ago at the age of 80 years, told him how Te Ronga was buried at Massacre Hill, and how it had been intended to remove the body, probably to the North Island, for burial. This plan, however, was prevented by trouble which arose immediately after the massacre. The burial place, he said, had never been disturbed, until it was accidentally discovered last week, but its locality had been known and kept a close secret.

It is understood that a claim to the remains of Te Ronga has been made by some of her descendants, and the remains will be buried later at a Maori burial place near the Wairau Pa.