Mr Hone Heke Rankin

Te Ao Hou, June 1964, Page 63

Mr Hone Heke Rankin Mr Hone Heke Rankin, OBE, J.P., of Kaikohe, died at Whangarei on 15 April, at the age of 68. Mr Rankin, a Ngapuhi rangatira of high descent, was related to the famous warrior Hone Heke, who defied the British in the 1840s, and was a nephew of the Hone Heke who was the first Member of Parliament for the Northern Maori seat. Born in Kaikohe, he received his early education with relatives in Gisborne. He served in the armed forces in the First World War and in 1945 was appointed to the Rehabilitation Board and council, as a representative of the Maori race. He was a member of the Taitokerau Trust Board and the Waitangi Te Ti Trust Board and was keenly interested in the development of the Punakitere land block, now run by the Government. He played a large part in the building at Otiria of the Tumatauenga meetinghouse, which was opened last February by the Governor-General. Mr Rankin was a man of remarkable talents and deep human sympathies. A controversial and courageous speaker, he was noted throughout Maoridom for his strong and eloquent advocacy of Maori rights. He will be greatly missed, and will be long remembered for his strength of spirit, his qualities of leadership and his devotion to the welfare of his people. In a tribute to Mr Rankin, the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Hanan, said that the whole country mourned the passing of one of the paramount chiefs and leaders of Maoridom. Mr Rankin, he said, was a true rangatira, and had brought further distinction to the illustrious an-

cestor whose name he bore. On behalf of the Government and the people, Mr Hanan sent a message of sympathy to Mrs Rankin, members of the family and the Maori people of North Auckland. Mr Rankin lay in state for one night at the Otiria marae. On the next day he lay in state at Ngawha for half an hour before being taken to Te Kotahitanga marae, his own marae. The tangi was attended by a great many people from both Northland and other districts. The funeral was held at the Aperihama Anglican Church and was conducted by the Rev. Frank Harris. Mr Rankin was buried in the Aperihama churchyard. He is survived by a wife and ten children.