Mr J. T. Waetford

Te Ao Hou, December 1966, Page 3

Mr J. T. Waetford Mr James Tono Waetford, a much-respected elder of the Ngapuhi tribe and long a public worker for the Maori people of Northland, died in Whangarei on 13 September, aged 59. Mr Waetford, with the former Chief Judge I. Prichard, was a member of a special committee set up to report on Maori land titles. This committee made far reaching recommendations which are still being considered by Government. Most of his Public Service career was spent working for better utilization of Maori land and to improve land titles for Maoris. Most of his work was done in North Auckland but from time to time he gave a helping hand in other Maori Land Court districts. Many hundreds of Maori families in North Auckland have Mr Waetford to thank for the good title to their farm. Much of the success achieved in land development and settlement in North Auckland can also be attributed to

Mr Waetford's work. He carried the gospel of land development to all corners of the district and more than anyone, he was responsible for persuading Maori owners to bring their land under development. Mr Waetford was one of the last of the old school of Maori title experts employed by the Department of Maori Affairs, and his death leaves a void that can never be filled. He was chairman of the Whananaki Maori Committee, a member of the Whangarei Maori Committee, and a member of the board of trustees of the Whangarei Maori Community Centre. At one time he was chairman of the Tai Tokerau District Council and is an exchairman of the Northern Maori branch of the National Party. He contested one general election as the party's Northern Maori candidate. Mr Waetford is survived by his wife Mange, and children Betty, Reokara, Wiwi, Hepi, Kaare, Tiuka, Aroha, Uru, Don, Jonathan, Maraea, Carolyn, Charlotte, Cushla and Rory. Hemi Tono Wetiwha i mate ki te Hohipera o Whangarei i te 13 Hepetema. I kurangia ki Whananaki, Whangarei Haikura me Tipene. I tu ia hei kai whakaako mo nga tau maha mo Tipene i te wa ko Albert Wilson te tumuaki. He tamaiti whakaaronuitia e ana matua o Ngatiwai, Ngatikahu, Te Parawhau, Uriroroi o te takiwa o Whangarei. I takoto ia i tana marae i Whakapaumahara, Whananaki. I ngaro ia ki te urupa hou o Whananaki i te puke tirohanga iho ki te marae—ona tau 59. I moe i a Mange o te whanau a Rongo raua ko Hiku Paraone Kawiti o Opahi. He taonga tangata a raua (16) tamariki.