James Rongotoa Elkington

Tu Tangata, Issue 25, 1 August 1985, Page 44

James Rongotoa Elkington

Poroporaki

Paramount Chief of the Ngati Koata Tribe, and a Patriarch in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, James Rongotoa Elkington, died peacefully in his son’s home, Temple View, Hamilton at 11.40p.m. on Saturday June Ist. Born on D’Urville Island on June 21st 1898 he was the third of 14 children born to John Arthur Elkington and Wetekia Ruruku, and until his death their eldest surviving child. The Ngati Koata tribe of which he was the Paramount Chief extends its blood lines from Kawhia, the Waikato through into Nelson having migrated from Kawhia to Kapiti during Ngati Toa’s exodus under Te Rauparaha later moving to D’Urville Island. Educated at the Whangarae Native Primary School in the Croxielles area of Nelson he left at the age of 13 to attend the Maori Agricultural College in Hastings. He was a top student in his time at the Latter Day Saint Maori Agricultural College also being a contemporary of the lengendary full back George Nepia. In 1917 he married Hultan Mere Meha and together they raised 13 children, 8 of their own and 5 adopted. His first wife passed away in 1946 and in 1951 he married Elsie Caroline Wolfgramme raising 2 more children.

His surviving descendants, from children through numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, gathered from the United States of America, Australia, Tonga and all parts of New Zealand to attend the memorial and funeral services. During his life he worked as a farming contractor, carpenter and educator. He and his family contributed 40 years of man hours in construction work for the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints working on both the New Zealand Temple and the Church College of New Zealand, Hamilton.

He also served as a member of the Church College of New Zealand Faculty from 1958 to 1971 becoming in 1972 the Maori Advisor to the Brigham Young University in Hawaii. As a faithful and active member in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints he served as a Branch President on D'Urville Island and in Porirua also serving as Elder's Quorum President in Porirua. He was the first Maori Patriarch in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints being called in 1967 serving faithfully from that time. Throughout his life, whether it was

while fulfilling his position as Paramount Chief in the Ngati Koata tribe or his labours in his beloved Church, he followed in the footsteps of the Saviour with humility always willing to serve those who needed him. He was a quiet unassuming man whose love for the Gospel governed everything that he did esteeming every person as himself constantly living his personal motto of “Doing unto others as he would be done by.”