HAERE KI O KOUTOU TIPUNA

Mr Mororekai Kaupeka Piripi Mr Mororekai Kaupeka Piripi, a leading rangatira of Ngati Wai, died at Whangarei on 28 November. He was aged 85. The son of Henare Kaupeka Piripi, Mr Piripi was one of the last remaining authorities on Maori history and tradition in the Northland area. He was a great advocate of education, and was intensely interested in the welfare of his people. He was instrumental in organizing much of the sub-division of Maori lands in the north, believing that this would result in a better use of the land. Mr Piripi is survived by his second wife, whom he married 11 years ago, and 11 of his 16 children. There are 76 grandchildren and 40 greatgrandchildren. He was buried at Mokau Cemetery after a service at the Punaruku Latter Day Saints Chapel.

Mr James Te Hikoi Paora Mr James Te Hikoi Paora, a leading elder of Ngati Whatua, died at Orakei, Auckland, last December. He was aged 92. Mr Paora was the youngest son of Paora Kawharu, a leading rangatira of Ngati Whatua. He was unmarried. He was born near Helensville and lived most of his life in Northland except for the last 15 years at Orakei. Mr Paora had a wide knowledge of Maori history and tradition, chants and lore. The funeral service at Orakei was conducted by his nephew, the Bishop of Aotearoa, the Rt Rev. W. N. Panapa.

Mrs Keata Nikora Mrs Keata Nikora of Manutuke, near Gisborne, died last November in her 101st year. Mrs Nikora spent most of her life in the Manutuke district. A strong adherent of the Church of England, she was associated with the first church in the pastorate and had vivid memories of the first missionaries on the East Coast, particularly of Bishop William Williams and his son Leonard. She also remembered the standing forests at Manutuke which surrounded the fields of wheat, and recalled reaping the wheat by sickle, threshing it with manuka flails, and hand-winnowing the grain. A member of the Rongowhakaata tribe, Mrs Nikora was the daughter of Wiremu Kauae (later known as Wiremu Tooke) and Harriet O'Brien (Harete Paraine). She married Mr Huruhuia Nikora at Manutuke. Remarkably active and alert, Mrs Nikora retained good sight and hearing until the last, and had an excellent memory of past events. Predeceased by her husband in 1951, she is survived by two sons, Messrs M. P. Nikora and K. Nikora, and one daughter, Mrs Hiraina Nukunuku.

Mr Graham Latimer The death occurred last November of Mr Graham Latimer Snr. He was aged 65. Mr Latimer was a leader of the Ngati Kahu tribe, and was also a member of the Aupouri and Te Rarawa tribes. Born at Pamapuria, Mr Latimer was educated at Kaitaia and Te Aute College. He joined the army in 1917 and after returning home worked for a time on the gumfields. In 1921 he married Miss Lilian Kenworthy of Houhora, and took up farming in the Pamapuria district. When World War II broke out Mr Latimer again enlisted and rose to the rank of captain in the army, becoming a recruiting and welfare officer in Northland. After the war he moved to Auckland and in 1950 started work on the wharves. He was a member of the Waterside Workers' Union from its inception and was an executive member for a number of years. At the time of his death he was a committee member of the Watersiders' Benefit Society and secretary-treasurer of the Waterfront Rugby League team. He was best known for his welfare work among the Maori waterside workers and put a great deal of time and effort into his work in this direction. While in Northland Mr Latimer was prominent as a sportsman and sporting administrator in both rugby and tennis. For many years he was a member of the North Auckland Rugby Union Maori Advisory Board. He is survived by his wife, one sister (Mrs Annie Taylor, of Mt Roskill), four sons, Graham Jnr. (Tinopai). Frank (Te Puke), Joe and Lloyd (Auckland) and two daughters, May (Mrs Tataha, of Glen Innes) and Julia (Mrs Kake, of Te Atatu).