Te Ra Motu

Te Ao Hou, December 1967, Page 2

Te Ra Motu Mrs Te Ra Matekino Joseph Motu, eldest child of Hera Te Aorere Kingi and Anaru Eketone of Waikato-Maniapoto tribes, died recently. Mrs Motu was a foundation member of her local branch of the Maori Women's Welfare League at Te Kumi, Te Kuiti. She was the first district council president for Maniapoto in which there were 22 branches with a membership of 400. With the late Mrs Francis Paki, of the Waikato district council, she helped to form the national body of the league. Mrs Motu was a leading member of the Ratana Church and received a badge of honour for 20 years' excellent service with the Women's Christian Temperance Union. In 1962 she joined a delegation of Maori women to the world triennial conference in Melbourne of the Associated Country Women of the World as observer for the Maori Women's Welfare League. Mrs Motu was admired for her methodical approach and conscientiousness in all she did. She was enthusiastic about arts, crafts, homecraft and gardening. She is survived by seven sons and three daughters.