LEADING MAORI

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19985, 10 July 1939, Page 6

LEADING MAORI

DEATH IN WELLINGTON MLS. PAR AT A RODE RTS IT AW The death occurred recently in Wellington of Mrs. Katherine Te Ucngokai! :.ra Pa rata Robertshaw, a d: -Lnguk had figure in Maori history. Mrs. Robertslia-w was born at Talira ng-a in 1874, being the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. Asher. She was a direct descendant on her mother s .side of Tame Tc Kapua, olnc! the Ar.iwa canoe, and also of other chicks oi the canoes Matutua au’a Taimui. which crossed the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand . Mrs. Robert shaw was married in to Mr. Charles Parata, son of Mr. Tame Parata, who was member of the House of Representatives for the Southern Maori district for oyer 30 years. Through his father, Mr. Charles Parata claimed direct descent from ’the Maori navigator Tama tea, captain of the Takiitimu canoe, which arrived from Haiwaiiki. This marriage united the highest houses in both islands and was an event of very great interest and importance in Maori history, for it was the first time these tribes had been united. To employ the Maori phraseology, it “built a bridge between .the North and South Islands.” Mrs. Parata later married Mr. Leonard Robertshaw. who died some years ago. IShe leaves a son and a daughter As the wife of Mr. Charles Parata and the first chieftainess- in New Zealand, Mrs. Robertshaw received the late King George V. and Queen Mary when they were the Duke and Duchess of York at a reception tendered the Royal couple by the Maoris in Rotorua.