OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 250, 16 December 1940, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR RAIMONA HERETAUNTGAJ

The death occurred recently of Mr Raimona Heretaunga, a chief of the Ngati Rangitihi tribe of the s Matata district. Mr Heretaunga, a Maori administrator held in the "high, est regard by natives and pakehas alike, Avas the first to introduce - •' Rugby football into tlie district...; He Avas born at Matata, in 1868.. and attended the Matata School.. After completing his pTimary edu- _ cation it Avas decided that he should further his education so that his tribe would benefit his stud- \ ies and in 1882 he was sent to St--Stephen's College, spending four years there. • , - Returning to Matata in 1886, he took with'him the first football seen . in the district, and with Te Pokiha . . and Hataraka Hone, tAvo other mem bers of the tribe "attending St. Step- \ hen's, and MMStfkl Burt, Avell known member of~ r^^^ s !of Plenty local bodies and a sportsman of note,. . initiated the Maoris of Matata into the mysteries of Rugby. The result' . of his interest and enthusiasm in - those and subsequent days is seen in , the high standard of football demonstrated by the Maoris of Matata to-day. The year 1887 saAV the arrival in the district of the famous Warbrick brothers and football was well established. In 1888, Mr Raimona Heretaunga returned to Auckland for another tAvo years for a ance of his studies. In 18>92 he was appointed to the position of secretary of the # Arawa County Council and he oocjjpied this position for four yearS- • 1932 he Avas elected to the Arawa Trust- Board and he served in this capacity until the time of his death. Mr Raimona Heretaunga Avas mar- • Tied twice and he is- survived by his second wife' and two tons, both. ; of Avhom are at present serving over seas with the Maori Battalion. -