Ihaia Porutu Puketapu, O.B.E.

Te Ao Hou, 1973, Page 3

Ihaia Porutu Puketapu, O.B.E. Well known to all in the Hutt Valley as the local Maori leader. Ihaia (Paddy) Puketapu was buried on the marae outside Aroha Ki Te Tangata. the house he loved, after his death at 84. Years before in Taranaki he had a vision of a meeting house for all at Wellington, the ‘head of the fish’. and he led his people to Wai- Ihaia Puketapu rests outside ‘Aroha Ki Te Tangata’ at the end of the service

whetu. There, with determination and assistance from the late Sir Walter Nash, he resisted efforts to disperse the people, and eventually saw a group of 24 state houses built round the marae area, and the beautiful meeting house established. Among the hundreds who came to pay tribute were the Minister of Maori Affairs, and the Mayor of Lower Hutt. Speaking at the tangi, Te Oenuku Rene said, ‘One of the last ropes of Maori history has been severed. He was the last of his generation. He had tremendous faith in his people and their cause, and was referred to as a paramount chief because of the provision he had made for his people.’ Mr Puketapu was survived by his wife and nine children.