OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 31, Issue 9, 11 December 1945, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR JOHN RIINI

The recent death of the late Mr John Riini of Piripai, Whakatane, came as a gresit loss ? not only to his family and relatives but to the Maori people as a whole., and more particularly to the Ngatiawa and the Whanau-a-Apanui tribes who recognised him as one who took a leading part in their affairs. The education he received at the Omaio Native Scliool and later at the St. Stephen's Native School in Auckland provided him with the necessary ability to act as a representative, for his people on both Maori and Pakeha committees and institutions. In this rcspect he held many appointments at various periods during liis lifetime such as a delegate lor the Apanui Rugby Union, a member of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Un'ion representing the Maoris a member of the Ngatiawa Tribal and Manpower Committee a member of the 'Referees' Association and of the tua Tennis Association and up to the date of his death he was a member of the Board of Directors for the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Co. Ltd. tj and was holding the position of Chairman of the Paroa Native School Committee. Throughout the recent war he was the ;Recruiting Officer for the Maori Battalion in the local district.

In his youth he took a keen and active, part in various ldnds of spoitt more particularly in Rugby football. In his day he had been on occasions a representative player for the Whakatane Rugby Union. When lie retired from being an active playcr f he becamc one of the keenest advocates in fostering and encouraging sport amongst the Maori people.. He was responsible for arranging many a representative tribal match in various fields of sport and in the management of travelling teams right up to the time of his dearth.

I He took up farming pursuits as a career and on his death ho left a dairy farm at Whakatane, and a family of five living sons and two daughters. Four ol' his sons who were of eligible, age volunteered for y-erviec in the recent war. Two of these were killed in action overseas one recently returned and the other discharged from home service. His wife predeceased him about four years ago.

The large number of people both Maori and Pa'keha who came i'rom far and, near to attend his tangi and funeral attested to the great respect in which he. was held.