South Island loses a mountain

Tu Tangata, Issue 20, 1 October 1984, Page 30

South Island loses a mountain

Na Paul Bensemann

One of New Zealand’s most respected elders, and widely regarded as paramount Rangatira of the South Island, Mr Riki te Mairaki Ellison-Taiaroa, died at Cromwell on July 9, aged 68.

He was visiting relatives on his way home from the tangihanga at Dunedin for Mr Witurora Duff, another leading South Island elder, when his lungs suddenly became badly conjested. Mr Ellison’s body was first taken to Otakou Marae near Dunedin his birthplace and next day was flown to Rehua Marae, Christchurch, for a

day and a night before going to Christchurch Catherdral for one of the most impressive services ever held there. The packed congregation included Members of Parliament and the Mayor, who delivered a eulogy on behalf of Christchurch.

The city came to a standstill afterwards in a scene perhaps unprecedented as dozens of traffic officers dressed with long white gloves cleared every intersection from the Square to the city outskirts. As the hundred or so cortege cars drove through, each officer in turn snapped to attention and saluted. It gave Christchurch mana in the eyes of North Island tribal representatives, and it moved people to tears.

Misty rain which started suddenly after the church service turned again to clear skies just as Mr Ellison arrived at his coastal home at Taumutu, next to Lake Ellesmere. Four large marquees were needed to cope with visitors while two paddocks were used for carparks.

Many elderly North Islanders said it was the biggest tangihanga they had seen.

Mr Ellison was buried beside the Hone Wetere Church, Orariki Pa, Taumutu. Buried with him were pieces of earth and sand collected by Murihiku (Southland) people from traditional Ngai Tahu/Ngati Mamoe settlements all the way up the coast.

Ko te Waka-o-Aoraki te whenua Ko Riki te Mairaki Ellison-Taiaroa te tangata

A few minutes with Riki te Mairaki Ellison-Taiaroa would tell you this was no ordinary man. The short, stocky figure encircled your hand in both his, and spoke softly, sincerely. Smiles came easy to those dark and gentle features and kindness seemed to shine in his light blue eyes. People respected Riki for who he was. For the way he was, they loved him.

This man was great great grandson on both his mother's and father’s side to Matenga Taiaroa, the Ngai Tahu military commander who chased Te Rauparaha from the Marlborough Sounds in 1834. Three years later he ambushed and defeated Te Puoho and Te Ati Awa after their several-months-long trek down the West Coast then over the Alps into Southland to “surprise” Ngati Tahu/Ngati Mamoe.

Riki was great grandson to the Hon. Hori Kerei Taiaroa, member of parliament for Southern Maori from 1871 to 1879 and from 1881 to 1885. In 1879 Hori Kerei built “Te Awhitu", the twostoreyed house at Taumutu, 50 kilometers south of Christchurch, which has been home and marae for 105 years. In parliament he constantly attacked the Government for its harsh treatment of Te Whiti-o-Rongomai and the Parihaka people, was responsible for the return of thousands of hectares of maori land and plugged for a New Zealand Maori Council as a forum for maori grievances.

Riki grew up with his eldest granduncle. Riki Te Mairaki (Dick) Taiaroa OBE, and with Hori Kerei’s widow Taua Tini. Dick won fame as a horseman in the Boer War and as a member of the “New Zealand Native Team" in 1888 our first national rugby side to tour Britain. Later he became renowned as a Rangatira. In 1902 he was chosen to represent the maori race at King Edward Vll’s coronation and again in 1911 when King George V was crowned. It was he who arranged the taumau marriage in 1921 between his niece Rai Moheko Taiaroa and Ngati Toa's Te Rauparaha Wineera a bond between the two peoples ever since.

On his father’s side Riki was great grandson of Thomas Ellison, a pakeha whaler who married Te Ika-i-raua. daughter of Te Whati of Ngati Tama/Te Ati Awa. From them came Raniera Ellison, a whangai of Te Whiti, who sought gold in the South Island and found 25lbs on a shingle beach in the Shotover in 1862 the largest single find ever in New Zealand in one day. Later his gold helped build the village of Parihaka, while he stayed to woo Nani Weller, grand daughter of Matenga, at “the kaik” in the entrance of Dunedin's harbour. Not overjoyed at the thought of a Te Atiawa grandson-in-law. Matenga did not consent until the couple eloped.

Their son, Edward Pohau Ellison OBE, Riki’s father, became the doctor who treated lepers on remote Pacific Islands and was appointed deputy resident commissioner and medical officer in Niue (1919), commissioner, magistrate and medical officer in the Chathams (1921), director of the division of Maori Hygiene. New Zealand (1927) and commissioner of the high

court, Cook Islands (1932). His marriage was arranged in 1913 to Tini Wiwi Taiaroa, daughter of Teone Wiwi Taiaroa and Rakapa Ramiha Potaka (from Wanganui). Riki, their first, was born on 27 June 1916 in Dunedin and from the age of four lived at “Te Awhitu”.

Hard farm work before and after school did not prevent the boy becoming dux of Sedgemere Primary School and a leading cricket and rugby player. Southbridge District High followed, a farm course at Lincoln, and then training as an officer in the Home Guard.

In 1942 Riki joined the airforce, was sent to the wireless operator/airgunners course in Winnipeg, Cananda, and because he topped the class, remained to train others instead of joining the European conflict. When on leave he and a mate hitch hiked into the United States, were picked up by Bing Crosby and driven to his ranch then beach house where they stayed. Crosby returned them to the Canadian border when their leave ended.

After being hospitalised in 1943 with a rare and permanent sickness, Addison's Disease, Riki was sent home and recovered enough to go to the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) as American air force base radio operator, and a navigator. Rumour has it he was burnt in an air crash, but he declined to talk about war after he left the airforce in 1946 except to say, with pleasure, that he never killed anyone.

Back home, Riki's farm became a renowned Freisian stud, with stock constantly winning prizes at Agricultural and Pastoral shows, and he gained respect from local farmers who appointed him secretary of their Sedgemere Hall Committee from 1948 on.

Riki's work widened in 1976 when appointed justice of the peace and again in 1981 after being one of the two highest polling candidates to the new Ellesmere College's board of governors. In 1974 he was on television formally welcoming Prince Philip at the Christchurch Commonwealth Games opening. Typically, when the Prince returned in 1981 and invited him to a dinner party on the royal yacht. Riki went along only after trying to send “street kids” in his place. Christchurch's leading citizens were amazed to see Philip enter the room, look around, then walk through them to a corner where the humble maori was hiding.

It was to his own people that Riki really devoted his life. The list says: Maori Council member since 1967. chairman of the Canterbury Maori Council executive, and member of Te Waipounamu District Council. Major part in setting up West Coast's Mawhera Incorporation for maori land, in establishing Hakatere Marae and culture group in Ashburton, and in

creating appointment of Bishop of Aotearoa. South Island member of Aotearoa Bishopric Council and chairman of Taumutu Methodist Marae Trust. Travelled widely a patron of Taumutu Maori Women’s Welfare League, Kotahitangi and Nga Potiki Maori cultural groups, Te Waipounamu Girls’ College and Burnham Military Camp's cultural and sporting club, Ngati Moki. South Island representative on Maori Education Foundation. Chairman of Rehua Marae and trustee of Nga Hau e Wha National Marae. Founding chairman of Ngai Tahu research trust and responsible for its archives.

Under his leadership, whare wananga for young people sprang up around the island. Through his advice the Historic Places Trust and Canterbury Museum protected important South Island taonga and wahi tapu. After his urging to “fight to the bitter end" Ngai Tahu battled to stop mining of sacred greenstone lodes and to scale down commercial harvesting of eels in the cherished Waihora (Lake Ellesmere). He will be memorialised by a probable legally-reserved inlet, but the mining continues, on land never sold by the tribe. The pounamu is going with him.

More than anything, youth work endeared him to North Island parents. Riki opened his farm and house to young apprentices from Te Kaihanga, Te Aranga and Rehua hostels, assisted gang members, and helped set up Kohanga Reo and Matua Whangai in the South Island. Many times, North Island relatives of young maoris killed in accidents were relieved to arrive to find Riki already there.

As Queen's Service Order medal was given him in 1982 “for services to the maori people” but it was little consolation for days spent away. Whether the hui was in Picton or Invercargill, Riki was wanted. He might reach home exhausted after a week in the North Island, to rush off immediately, then back again to host some student group on his small Ngati Moki marae at Taumutu. Few people were aware that Riki was constantly ill for the last 20 years. Nor did he mention giving up his Freisians and the income from them because of lack of time.

His strength came largely from cousin Ruku te Kauki Arahanga, and her children and grandchildren in Te Awhitu. He became “Dadda" to them after she was widowed in 1972, and there was nothing he enjoyed more than an hour devising games for youngsters in his care.

Riki died without punishing a child or saying a word against an adult. He carried the burdens of his people and felt the blows of criticism. Even in his last hour of life, he did not complain. E Poua, haere.