OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 51, 18 November 1946, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR HETARAKA MERITO

In the death of Merito Hetaraka which occurred at his residence in the Waix-aka Pah at Whakatane recently, Whakatane has lost one of its most prominent Maori citizens. To the Maori people not only of Whakatane, but of the whole of the Matatua district, his loss is a'severe blow and will be felt widely.

As the eldest son of Hetaraka Te Tawhero, a leading member of the Ngatiawa tribe of Whakatane, Merito was born at Wairua, Ohope, on the sth day of June, 1862. At that time Ohope was populated by the Ngatihokapa sub-tribe of the Ngatiawas. It will be noted that he was born at a time when civilisation was in its very infancy so far as it affected the welfare of the Maori people of this district. Merito like his father before him, was quick to pick out and adopt the advantages brought by civilisation, and at quite an early age he became the greatest advocate and example amongst his people in this district for the adoption of civilised ways and mode of living. In time he became known as the ablest speaker and debater amongst his people, and this, coupled with the fact that he was such a clean living man, his arguments always carried weight and influence in deciding matters of moment in the affairs of his people. When a comparatively young man, his reputation as a wise councillor in public affairs, became widely known, and as a result his services were keenly sought in matters affecting the welfare of the Maori people.

What little education Merito had was acquired in a private school established in Whakatane by the late Mr R. O. Stewart somewhere about the year 1870, there being no State school in this distract at that period. His father, who lived in those troubesome days when certain sections of the Maori people rebelled against their subjection to the Crown of England, was one who deemed that British rule would bring the advantages of civilisation to the Maori people, as a result of which he chose to become a staunch loyalist to the crown of England, and there and then, adopted the Christian faith under the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. So strong a supporter of the Church did he become, that he was appointed a catachist, and from his descendants, sprung many a catachist, the most prominent and devout of whom was his eldest son, the late Merito Hetaraka.

Because of his loyalty and the assistance given by him to the militia sent by the Government to quell disturbances in this district, Merito’s father became one of the few who was granted back certain lands without that vast area of country in the Whakatane district confiscated by the Government for alleged rebellion which to the present day is deplored and considered a grave injustice, not only by those people from whom it was taken, but by the Maori people of the Dominion as a whole.

The late Hurunui Apanui, that grand old man, and most respected of paramount chiefs, during his lifetime, adopted Merito as his principal Councillor. About the year 1911 in a series of sittings of the Native Land Court between Cape Runaway and Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, Merito had the distinction of sitting with the late Land Court as his asociate and assessor.

Soon after the Maori Council Act was made law in the year 1900, Merito was elected one of the seven members to represent the Matatua Maori Council’s District, and after acting as a member for one year, he was elected as Chairman of the Council, which position he held continuously for 32 years. He resigned only a few years ago, partly on account of failing health and partly on account of his desire to make room on the Council for his nephew, Mr A. O. Stewart. During his term of office, his influence acted as the greatest deterrent to the Maori people in the committing of offences within his Council’s area.

He had acted on many occasions as a delegate or representative for this district at important conferences of the Maori people with the Government.

A tangi was held for him at. the local Wairaka Meetinghouse .at which a large number of visitors representing many tribes from far and near attended.

In the speeches and farewell ovations given at the tangi, every speaker made glowing eulogistic references to the great- work performed by the deceased for the good of the people and his leaving behind an example of a life lived in a good,

clean, useful and unselfish manner. The late Hetaraka Merito’s wifepredeceased him a few ago, and of their 17 children, only fiveare living. There is, however, a very large number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In fact, if a list of his descendants were compiled, it would probably create a record for the district, whether pakeha or'Maori. Thus may be paid a short tribute to the memory of a worthy citizen, a shining example of what a man. could be and a perfect gentleman*.