Mr Te Onewa Te Waati Taiaroa

Te Ao Hou, June 1962, Page 64

Mr Te Onewa Te Waati Taiaroa The death occurred last February at Ratana Pa of Mr Te Onewa Te Waati Taiaroa. He was in his 64th year. Mr Taiaroa was a direct descendant of Turi, the navigator of the Aotea canoe. In the early 20s Mr Taiaroa married Miss Kaneihana Pehimana, niece of the late Mr T. W. Ratana, prime mover and first president of the Ratana Established Church of New Zealand. There were seven children, the sole surviving member being Mr Nakata Taiaroa, of Ratana Pa. Mrs Taiaroa died 24 years ago. In late years Mr Taiaroa married Miss Ihipera Koria Taurua Pehimana, grand-niece of Mr T. W. Ratana. There were two daughters and a son, all residents of Ratana Pa. He was chairman of the Ratana Tribal Committee, a member of the Ratana Trust Board, the Ratana Marae Committee, and of the Ratana Youth Club, and had a directing hand in all Ratana sports and concert work.