Poroporoaki

Tu Tangata, Issue 13, 1 August 1983, Page 30

Poroporoaki

The death occurred at Bethleham, in the Tauranga district, on 17 May 1983, of Kaikohe Kereti Roretana, also known as Goss Rolleston. His tribal connections included not only Ngaiterangi and Ngati-Ranginui of Tauranga Moana, but also Tainui, Te Arawa and all the major canoes. He was a direct descendant of Tupaea who was the paramount chief of Tauranga Moana at the time of the battles at Gate Pa and Te Ranga in 1864.

Ko Mauao te maunga Ko Tauranga te moana Ko Tupaea te tangata This is the tribal description of the sacred mountain, Mauao (Mount Maunganui), the harbour of Tauranga and the region under the man of the chief Tupaea. Kaikohe Roretana wore the cloak worn by Tupaea at Gate Pa, when a delegation from Tauranga Moana presented a petition for compensation for the lands confiscated in 1864, at Parliament in 1975. He took an active part in the negotiations which led to the acceptance of the petition by Government and establishment of the Tauranga Moana Trust Board. Kaikohe Roretana was born in the Tauranga district in the late 1880 s. While still young he was taken to live with an uncle at Manakau in the Rangitikei district and went to school there. As a young man he returned to Tauranga and worked at various places in the district, including farm work on Motiti, Gamman’s Timber Mill at Omanawa, construction of the East Coast Main Truck Line, and chaff cutting and maize harvesting contracts at Otumoetai and elsewhere. He returned to Rangitikei for a period and worked on Dan Riddiford’s farm, training race horses, and became well-known for his skill with horses. He was also wellknown in rugby circles, playing for Motiti, Tauranga and Bay of Plenty representative teams. In the 1920 s he set-

tied on a dairy farm at Katikati and stayed there until the early 1960 s when he retired to Bethlehem. During a long and active life, Kaikohe Roretana participated in a wide range of tribal activities. He was involved with the establishment of the Ngamanawa Incorporation, Tuhua (Mayor Island) Board of Trustees, marae development programmes in Tauranga Moana and various land matters. His knowledge and experience in such issues was regularly sought by his people. He was also the fount of a vast range of knowledge of tribal history and custom. As a respected authority in such matters, his loss will be deeply felt by younger generations eager to retain tribal culture. He travelled widely to participate in tangihanga, hui and other gatherings. Only last Christmas he journeyed to the South Island to visit some of his numerous family. His direct descendants number 238. He was father of 12 children Ted, Manu, Sam, Dolly, Ursula, Ena, Thomas, Martha, Makuini and the late Nora, Arthur and Dan. Among his descendants are 59 grandchildren, 124 great grandchildren and 25 great-great grandchildren. The tangi was held at Bethlehem Marae and attended by people from all over New Zealand and overseas. Haere, e Koro, haere ki o tipuna Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitu te whenua.