Tau Ranginui

Tu Tangata, Issue 22, 1 February 1985, Page 22

Tau Ranginui

Poroporoaki

An elder of the Muaupoko iwi, Motaitaueki Watene Ranginui, died last year and his tangi was held at the Pariri marae overlooking Lake Horowhenua.

Tau, as he was commonly known, was instrumental in fostering the return to the land by the Muaupoko people in the 50’s. Prior to this time the land known as the Horowhenua block, comprising nearly two thousand five hundred hectares, had been mainly leased to europeans for pastoral farming and some market gardening. (See earlier story Tu Tangata, Issue 10, March 1983).

Tau was the chairman of the Horowhenua Lake Trustees and was on the Horowhenua Lake Domain Board. These trustees are currently holding discussions with the Ministry of Works and other interested bodies over long term plans to beautify the lake and surrounding land.

Tau’s widow, Rita, says her husband was asked to come back to the Horowhenua to help the people by his cousin, Ruku Tapaki in 1951. At that time she and her husband had been living at Kilbernie; Wellington since the war when they had shifted from Waiouru. Tau worked with the Ministry of Works in the earth-moving section there and later moved to Wellington with the MOW and worked on the establishment of military encampments like Fort Dorset.

It was in Wellington that Tau and Rita became known in the maori community for their openness and help to young Maori people working in the city. Rita remembers Maori parents coming to their door to check out their credentials before deciding if it was safe to have their children stay there.

Students at Wellington Teachers Training College found the Ranginui household a home away from home. Rita says when Victoria house was full up with boarders, their home was the next choice.

You might think from this that life in the Ranginui home was a lot of work, but those who knew Tau would remember the musical talent in the family. Rita says her husband played most instruments and their son, Tamai took after his father.

In their early married life it was so good that Tau played in a band at the Chateau during the skiing season and the family stayed at Raetihi. Tau played drums with this band. Tau and Rita were also involved with

Ngati Poneke in helping young Maori carry on their culture away from their kainga. Rita has fond memories of Debutante Balls run by Ngati Poneke x and says Tau, who was a very active and successful businessman was only too happy to help out.

Although Tau was not on any marae committees back home amongst Muaupoko, he came back regularly to help. It was at this time of Sir Eruera Tirikatene holding portfolio as Minister of Forests that the offer was made to the Muaupoko people to plant much of the coastal block in pine. Unfortunately says Rita, the proposal was turned down.

Nevertheless Tau spent his remaining years amongst his people, helping them to make better utilisation of their land.

He would be happy to know that his people are continuing to work to that ideal on the Horowhenua block and that his old firm, the Ministry of Works wants to play its part.

Died 25 October 1984 aged 80 years. MATERNAL Waka Kiri Totara married Motaimahanga Tangatarau Ruta te Kiri married Wiremu Kingi Matakatea Miriama married Patupere Watene Ranginui Tau (Motaitaueki Watene Ranginui Fraternal Kopata married Kea Manuka married Irawera Manihera married Te Ratapu Watene Ranginui married Te Reta Patupere married Miriama Taueki married Rita Tamai Narunga Robert Jenny Te Ngaihe Edward Ranginui Warikau Irena Te Maari