Major Ropata's Career.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 3, 3 July 1897, Page 2

Major Ropata's Career.

The following particulars are from Mennell'g biography: — Wahawaha, Major Hon. Ropata, M.LC, N.Z.C., a Maori of distinction and a chief of tbe Ngati* porou tribe, is a member of tbe Legislative Counoil of New Zealand. He was • very prominent leader of tbe friendly tribes during the Maori war, distinguishing himself on several occasions by bit personal bravery, especially in the operations against the Hau Haas in 1865 and in tbe pursuit of Ta Kooti. He received the decoratione of the New Zealand Cross, as tha Gazette states, " for hie persona) gallantry and loyal devotion on tha occasion both on the first and last attack! on Ngatapa, and more especially for the courage ha showed on the first occasion, at the bead of seventy men, when all the rest of the native contingent bad retreated and left him without support; Major Bopata then poshed his way plots to the retrenchments and held a position at a pistol shot distance all day, and until! under cover of night, he was competed by want of ammunition to retire, having sustained heavy losses." Ngattipa in the Poverty Bay district was -the stronghold of Te Kooti, and its capture took place in the winter of 18680. For ~ his services in this connection a sword of honour was sent Bim by Her Majesty in 1870. __«_.»