Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga

There is much history on the life story of Karaka Kereru Tarawhiti, He was born 1^st February 1844 at Rakaumangamanga. The story of Karaka has been narrated by himself as a Native Land Court assessor for the Maori Land Court, He wrote and recorded the stories of battles, marriges especially whakapapa on Waikato, Tainui. Karaka met a lot of the Rangatira of Waikato during his childhood years to a adult. It was fortunate that during his time employed with the Maori Land Court, Karaka wrote a lot of the history in chronological order using a timelines and specific dates Most of his personal recordings on his family was written and transcribed during the hearings on the Moerangi Block and the Pepepe Block It was obvious why Karaka wrote a lot of his personal biography and that was because he grew up as child in the areas that were subjected to Court investigation. Karaka was educated at the Kaitotehe Mission School that was administered by the Rev Benjamin Yates Ashwell. This school was a very successful school in the Country during its time, therefore Karaka was taught good reading and writing skills by both the Ashwells and Mrs. Colenso that also came to work at the School. another key person that worked and taught at the school was Sir John Elsdon Gorst that later became the Magistrate Judge for Waikato. Karaka was also fortunate to have his father Heta Tarawhitiworking for Rev Ashwell until Heta became the Principal and Minister of both School Mission and the Waikato Parish. Karaka wrote extensively on the history of Whawhakia, it is attributed that the knowledge that we have on the life of Whawhakia was due to the precise facts written by Karaka Tarawhiti. He also wrote on many other stories such as Mahanga, Pikiao and the link between Ngati Whare, Ngati Te Wehi and Ngati Hourua..

Timeline of events

In 1864. Karaka and one other called Peehi Houkura would gather kai called the Koroi and hunt wild pigs around the Pirongia ranges Karaka was actively engaged in this for a total of four months.

In 1878.Heta Tarawhiti which was living by the Kaniwhaniwha stream shifted to the Puniu river, their he taught the children the art of cooking sacred food when they would hunt for birds.

In 1882. Karaka wrote that it was daily job to kill pigs around Pirongia.

In 1883. Karaka recalled the time when Hakiaha came to reside on the Puniu and asked him about the ownership of the land surrounding Pirongia? Hakiaha asked which part of the land belonged to the Government and which part of land belonged to Whawhakia the tupuna? Karaka replied None of the land has been partitioned! Though that does not worry the Government?

In 1898. Karaka met Percy Smith the writer and author of Maori history. Karaka asked Percy about the ownership of Matakowhai? And does he have a map of the area.Percy Smith answered yes! And with a ruler he proceeded to show Karaka what the Government claimed (confiscated) as their land from the Waitetuna to the Taihauaauru around to the Rohe Potae.

In 1903. At this time Karaka resided in Huntly both Karaka and Wiremu Patene submitted a petition of the boundaries confiscated wrongly by the Government, and Karaka presented this before the Maori Land Court.

On 21 January 1908 at Whatawhata at 10.00am the records speak of Karaka giving the whakapapa of Whawhakia to Kereru found on page 229.The story on how Kereru got his name from Whawhakia is found on page 220.

He worked as a Native Land Court Assessor in Waikato. Karaka had interests in much land and owned properties that he had built homes on. I refer to the Maori Land Court Minutes regarding evidence that he gave and a description and location of his home called Nopera at Rakaumangamanga. Karaka had two marriages, his first wife was called Hohi, his second wife was Ramari Whanatangi,from this marriage he had two children a girl called Ramari and a boy called Heta after his grandfather Heta Tarawhiti Snr. Karaka then met his third wife called Ani Kana Ranana(Randall) he married his third wife on 17 June 1878. The information is found in the Maori Land Court records and found at 5 Mer MB 219 - 220. Karaka give his personal tribal knowledge and the Moerangi block in Moerangi Minute Book Pg 214 - 15, the miniutes gave the story about the start of the Ngaati Whawhakia tribe. It was also reported in the old newspaper that Karaka was a Secretary for the Maori King this was published in "He kupu Whakamarama " No 27 Pg 10 1898 - 1902.

Finally there were facts published about the foundations of the Rakaumangamanga Native School concerning Karaka Tarawhiti by the late Mary Clark that were incorrect, Karaka personally petitioned the Education board for the establishment of a Native School to be established on reserved land. Karaka well inversed on the structure of the Education system because of his Father Heta being in charge of Kaitotehe School when Rev Ashwell left Waikato and his sister Roka Hariata Hopere that had established her own school at Rangiriri. Karaka was concerned that the Maori children that attended the Pakeha school on the Huntly township had to cross the river daily by waka(canoe). Sometimes this was not always possible because of the dangers and the rising of the Waikato river,this was a concern to the families and therefore a hui was called to ask for support for the establishment of a school and a letter be constructed and dispatched to the Education Board, a committee was formed and the letter was mandated to oversee this new establishment, Karaka was inversed with the different Acts and quoted to the Board the Act that specifically stipulated a clause of provision for legal provision for learning. Karaka drafted the necessary documents and posted them to Wellington. It was from that instigation that the Board sent representatives to meet with the committee, on return back to Wellington the delegation made submissions to the Minister for an urgent request for the Education board to authorize the establishment of a new School under the Native Schools Act and the Public Works Act. The deciding factor was based soley on the numbers that would be attending the school. Therefore the Education Board funded one teacher and a allotment for school materials. Karaka Tarawhiti reminded pailiament of the Reserve lands and that a small proportion from the Pepepe Lot 28A under the Native Land Act was appropriated for purposes of education. Karaka attended the opening of the Kura which was significant to the planting of a tree to mark the unique occassion.

Karaka Tarawhiti said;

“Let Raakaumanga become the beacon of education and the legacy of success, its soil shall harvest the cultural, social and political pathways, so that reality is not a dream."

Karaka died 20^th September 1918 in his home called Nopera on the Pepepe block Lot 28 called today as Te Kauri.

Page last updated 14 Jul 2009