Mrs Oriwia Rehu

Te Ao Hou, December 1966, Page 2

Mrs Oriwia Rehu Mrs Oriwia (Olive) Rehu, who played a leading role in the Arowhenua Maori Pa's affairs for many years, died suddenly at her home in early August. A former president of the Arowhenua Maori Women's Welfare League, and president for nearly 30 years of the Arowhenua Red Cross, Mrs Rehu had lived at the pa for 46 years since her marriage. Mrs Rehu was born in Otaki, a member of the Ngati-Raukawa tribe. She was a daughter of Mr and Mrs Pihopea Hawea, and during her life in Arowhenua was an acknowledged expert on the Maori language. She taught Maori language, arts and crafts, and Bible class at the Arowhenua Maori School for some years, and also conducted courses in Maori language at the Adult Education Centre in Timaru for a period. Keenly interested in all forms of Maori culture, Mrs Rehu was the composer of many Maori action songs used on special occasions at Arowhenua Pa, and she was always on the marae to welcome visitors on formal occasions. She was interested in the closer association of Maori and pakeha relations, and encouraged visits to the pa by neighbouring European organisations. Her two daughters, Ranui and Elizabeth, were among the first Maori pupils of Timaru Girls' High School, for Mrs Rehu was alive to the advantages of a good education, and she attended the inaugural meeting in Timaru of the Maori Education Foundation to which she continued to give active support. Both daughters became registered schoolteachers, and Elizabeth later look the leading female role in Bruce Mason's play The Pohutukawa Tree. Mrs Rehu is survived by her husband, Mr J. P. Rehu, and by two daughters, Ranui (Mrs J. Brooking) and Elizabeth (Mrs Murchie, Dunedin). There are 15 grandchildren.