VETERAN CHIEF

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1935, Page 5

VETERAN CHIEF

DEATH OF MITA TAUPOPOKI. PICTURESQUE ARAWA FIGURE. Rotorua, Jan. 14. The death occurred at a private hospital in Rotorua this evening of ■ the veteran chief of the Arawa Maoris, Mita Taupopoki, who was over 80 years of age . He was a picturesque figure, and for a number of years he had acted as spokesman, for his people on important ceremonial occasions As recently as December 21, on the occasion of the visit of the Duke of Gloucester to Rotrua, he took precedence in greeting the Duke as representing the Maori people of the immediate district. Garbed in full regalia, with feathered head-dress, he bowed and shook the Duke’s hand. It was his last public. appearance. Mita belong to the Ngati-tahourangi tribe and he lived at Whakarewarewa. In his earlier days he was a member of the pakeha militia, and held service medals in token of this. He travelled to Australia and England with Guide Maggie Papakura, and in 1930 he represented the Roman Catholic section of his people at the Eucharistic Congress in Sydney. Mita was possessed of the gifts of oratory characteristic of his race and he was well versed in their genealogies and history. He had the qualities of a leader, and it was his never-failing efforts to promote good understanding between pakeha and Maori that gave him a high place in the esteem of both peoples. He will be much missed, as he was one of the few remaining direct links with the historic past. lire body of the old chief has been removed to the meeting house at Whakarewarewa, where it will lie in state awaiting the tangi, which is likely to be one of the largest held for some years. Visitors from long distances are expected.