PICTURESQUE CEREMONY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18235, 2 November 1933, Page 7

PICTURESQUE CEREMONY

OLD MAORIS BURIED TOGETHER IN DEATH (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Picturesque Maori ceremonies were performed at Orakei village when representatives of tribes from all parts oi the North Island assembled to take part in the burial service to two old natives, Watene Tautan and Te Hira Pateoro, who died within seven hours ot each ot The burial took place in the old tribal cemetery at the village, and was witnessed by a large number of people from the city. An unusual feature was that the two men were buried side by side in one grave. It was stated that it would be difficult to find in Maori history a parallel to the circumstances of the lives of the deceased. They were both born in the village, brought up together, were lite long friends, died within a few hours of each other, and were buried in the same grave. . The Maori “King” Koroki was present, but did not take part in the ceremony, his uncle, a seffi of the earlier “King” Tawhiao, speaking on his behalf. Although there were over 2000 city people on the marae, the proceedings were not in any way interfered with, the grief of the Maoris being treated with the greatest respect.