REWETI TUHOROUTA KOHERE

Te Ao Hou, Spring 1954, Page 3

REWETI TUHOROUTA KOHERE The Rev. Reweti Tuhorouta Kohere, a leading chief of Ngati-Porou and the last survivor of the original members of the Young Maori Party, died at Te Araroa in August. He was aged 83. Mr Kohere was a grandson of the Hon. Mokena Kohere, one of the first Maoris to be appointed to the Legislative Council and a stalwart supporter of the British cause. Mr Kohere was educated at Te Aute College and Canterbury University College and at Te Aute was one of the outstanding young Maori men who later contributed much to the success of the Young Maori Movement, which worked through all agencies for the advancement of the Maori people. Reweti Kohere taught at several schools, including Te Aute, and was later in charge of the Kawakawa (East Coast) Anglican pastorate. He succeeded Bishop Bennett as editor of Te Pipiwharauroa, later known as Te Toa Takatini, a newspaper regarded as the repository of many gems of Maori literature. He was also the author of several books, including The Story of a Maori Chief (the life of his grandfather), Maori Proverbs and Sayings and his autobiography. In later life he retired from active work in the Church and settled on his land at East Cape.