Poroporoaki Wiki Christie

Tu Tangata, Issue 15, 1 December 1983, Page 30

Poroporoaki Wiki Christie

A great supporter of the Catholic faith died September 19, 1983, in Wairoa. Her name was Wiki Margaret Christie. Wiki was well known in many parts of New Zealand for the help she gave to the Catholic Church. She was born in Wairoa, in 1899 at her family marae, Whaakirangi, and died at the age of 83. During her lifetime Wiki was known for her big heart and straightforwardness and cheery disposition. She was widely respected for the help she gave to many families in their time of need and especially for her help to the Catholic congregation in Wairoa. She provided a home for many of the priests from The Society of Mary, Pakipaki, who came to Wairoa for mission work. She taught many priests ways to understand the Maori people and their language. During school holidays she held catechism camps at her marae for country children. Children from remote areas like, Te Reinga and Ruakituri (places about 25 miles from Wairoa), would attend these camps. Wiki held the camps to prepare children for confirmation and first holy communions.

Wiki was also considered a leader of the Tawhiti a Maru Marae, Wairoa. This marae is looked upon as a maori extension of the Catholic Church. It is built in the same grounds as the St Theresa Church, Ruataniwha Road, Wairoa. As a staunch Catholic, she regarded St Theresa’s as her home church and she was regarded as a leader of its congregation. She also helped other denominations. Whaakirangi, her Marae, is regarded in Wairoa, as the stronghold for the Ringatu faith. Many of the tekau ma rua were held there, every year. She did not confine all her assistance to her church, but took part in many of the activities at the different marae in the Wairoa district. She considered Takitimu, the paramount marae in the Wairoa area and helped make some of the whariki which protect the mattresses there. Wiki is survived by five of her 12 children. At the age of 17 she was wed to her first husband, Harry Lambert. He was a health inspector and a few years after their wedding they moved to Waipiro Bay. They returned to Wairoa and later, Mr Lambert died. Together they had 11 children.

She later married her second husband Hairuhu (Sy) Christie, and bore him one child. Until she retired 24 years ago, Wiki was cook at the old Wairoa Hospital for a few years. She gave up work to take care of her mother. Due to ill health Wiki had spent eighteen months in Hallwright House (an old peoples home in Wairoa), before she passed away. She was buried on her 84th birthday, September 23, 1983. Haere e kui Haere te wahine whakapono Haere kite Po uriuri kite Po nakonako te Po tangotango Haere kite tini kite mano kite wehi Haere kite ao wairua kite ao marama Haere kite huinga o Rehua Okioki kite araahata o Te Runga Rawa Waiho te Pua Nani o te whakapono ki roto i o matou ngakau Ma te Wairua Tapu e ngaki, kia puawai.

Ngahuia Wilson

Eruera Stirling, an elder of the Bay of Plenty died at his home in Auckland in October aged 84.

Mourners gathered at Hoani Waititi marae to farewell Eruera Stirling before his body was taken to his marae at Raukokore, Bay of Plenty.

His wife, Amiria died in April this year and the couple are now buried alongside each other.

The couple farmed at Raukokore from their marriage in 1918 until 1945 when ill health prompted their move to Auckland.

Eruera Stirling was educated at the Kirieke School of Learning in the eastern Bay of Plenty, attended Te Aute College, and in 1983 received an honorary doctorate of literature from Auckland University. He worked with the Auckland District Maori Council, the Maori Women’s Welfare League, the Maori Artists and Writers Society and the Orakei, Mangere, Hoani Waititi marae.

In 1977 he received an MBE. Much of the lore of his people was recorded by Anne Salmond in 1981 in the book: Eruera: The teachings of a Maori elder.