MAORI CHIEF'S DEATH.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17420, 3 April 1922, Page 12

MAORI CHIEF'S DEATH.

PICTURESQUE PERSONALITY. ] In the person of Noka Hukanui, om of the fast diminishing band of veteran Maori chieftains has passed over to the great majority. Noka's death occurred on Friday at the historic little Maori village pi Awataha (Shoal Bay) (states the Auckland "Herald"). Born » c Ngati-Apakuia parentage in the Kawhia district, Noka passed his earlier boyhood years there, near the historic spot where landed his Tainua ancestors from Hawaiki iu 1350 A.D. From Apakura, his ancestress of that migration, iNoka claimed a high lineal descent, and through her and many famous men of the olden days iie was related to all the prominent cii.efs of these districts. Iu tarty youth lie accompanied, his parenti to Waitomata (as Auckland was tiiwi known). Latpr he Uvea some years with them at tho Maugera pa, wneie tne Waikato head chief Potatau had made his headquarters. Noka was present at the tribal assembly at Ngaruawahia in 1858, when the Maori Kingito party was initiated and Potatau was elected King. lf™ m that time ho was a staunch ''lvingite, and when the Waikato war broke out—though yet a mere lad—he joined ins ciders in the fray, be'.ng present at many of the fights throughout that prolonged campaign, which endei intne final capture of the last Maon stronghold at Orakau in 1864. A\ith his Ngati-Apakura and other Kmgae tribes, Noka thereafter lived for some years in the seclusion of the Jv""epotae," as the King Country was then known. When Rewi Maniapoto (the Maori geneial and leader at Orakau) made his formal visit to Auckland as a token of peace, Noka was in his retinue, and subsequently joined his local relatives at Awataha. . . Noka was a brilliant and convincing orator. His sneeches were classic m their wav. and were always an important item "at Maori political assjmb.ics. His influence was very gieat among nis people in favour of law and order and the general good. During the Juuopean war no fewer than some 40 cl ins vounger people (nephews and grandnephews) served at the front, and many of them laid down their lives. t The deceased chief was very widely respected among all classes of both the European a®] Maori races, not only in the Northcote, but generally throughout the Auckland and Wakato districts. Noka was pre-deceased some four months by his wife, who was or high rank, also of the Ngati-Apakuia tribe.