HAERE KI O KOUTOU TIPUNA

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.

Ripene Matthews Mrs Ripene Matthews of Tauranga died in August aged 52. Born in Tauranga, she was the daughter of Kapene Rahiri, the paramount senior elder of the Ngatikahu, a sub-tribe of the Ngati Ranginui. Her mother, Henetie, was a descendant of Ruiha, an Arawa woman who married a Scottish nobleman. Although she did not receive a higher education. Mrs Matthews always recognised the value of learning and strove to make use of every facility in this direction. By much sacrifice and careful plannning she gave her children the very best opportunities, resulting in her adult children occupying positions including university lecturer. State registered nurses and successful business people. Her two youngest girls are still at College. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, she devoted more than 25 years of her life to teaching in the church kindergarten and classes of teenage pupils. Always working in the background of her church and public activities, Mrs Matthews was known to a wide circle of friends who were all affected by her love, service, duty, quiet modesty and pride in her work. She is survived by her husband, five sons and five daughters.

Rima Mina-rapa Several hundred Maoris gathered at Maruata (near Pehiaweri) to pay their last respects to the late Mr Rima Parata Mina-rapa who died in August, aged 93. He belonged to the Ngapuhi sub-tribe Ngati-hau. Mr Parata Mina-rapa was a paramount chief of the Ngati-hau and spent most of his life at Maruata. He was loved and respected by both Maori and Pakeha. He was well known, too, as an expert builder of stone fences, many of which can be seen today still standing on farms at Maungatapere, Ngararatunua and Maruata. He was also a well-known bushman and at one time was the overseer of a team of workers who gave their services free to clean bush from land for occupation by Maori farmers from Pataua, Tahere and Waiomio. As a foundation member of the Pehiaweri Maori Anglican Church he was known for his deep spiritual convictions and devotion. Mr Parata Mina-rapa is survived by his wife Te Huihuianga, seven daughters, four sons and many grandchildren.

Emily Reweti The death occurred at Auckland on 18 October of Emily Reremoana, second daughter of Te Niwa and Peeti Tumango Turoa of the Atihaunui a Paparangi tribe, Whanganui. She was