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The Story of a Maori Chief

Biographical Sketch of the Author

page 101

Biographical Sketch of the Author

Reweti Tuhorouta Kohere was born at Orutua, near East Cape, on April 11, 1871. He was the eldest son of Hone Hiki, eldest son of the Hon. Mokena Kohere. His mother was Henarata Pereto.

There being no school at Kawakawa (now Te Aroroa), he attended the Waiomatatini School for a few months. In 1882 his father sent him to Te Aute College, but because the college was full and because he knew very little he was sent home. Instead of taking him home his father decided to leave his son at Gisborne, where he attended the central school for a year and a half. In 1885 his father once more tried to get his son into Te Aute, and this time succeeded. In five years Reweti Kohere passed the matriculation and was appointed to the college staff. In 1892 he went to Canterbury University College, Christchurch. He had not completed his B.A. degree when he was appointed assistant tutor at Te Rau Theological College, Gisborne. While there he gained the L.Th. degree. In 1904 he married Keita Kaikiri Paratene.

On the transfer of the Rev. F. A. Bennett (now Bishop of Aotearoa) from Nelson to Taranaki his Maori paper, Te Pipiwharauroa, was published at Te Rau College, and Reweti Kohere took on the editorship. He was editor until the end of 1908, when, with his family, he shifted to Te Araroa. Te Kawakawa pastorate being vacant, Reweti Kohere was placed in charge at a stipend of £75 per annum. He carried on the work for thirteen years, when, owing to difficulties and an increasing family, he was compelled to send in his resignation. He retired with his family to a farm at East Cape, where he has been ever since.

In 1938, when the Labour Party was in a quandary, Reweti Kohere agreed to contest the Eastern Maori electorate against Sir Apirana Ngata, the sitting member. Although he was unable to traverse the large electorate he would have defeated the sitting member by a fair margin if the Labour vote had not been split by Tiaki Omana, the present member.

When it was decided to appoint a Maori Bishop the Maori Clergy of the large Auckland Diocese unanimously decided to nominate Reweti Kohere for the position.

While Reweti Kohere was still at Te Aute College he organised a party of three to visit the main settlements in Hawke's Bay, preaching social reform. The three lads—Maui Pomare (later to become Sir Maui Pomare), Timutimu Tawhai and Reweti Kohere—undertook the trip on foot. These three page 102 have always been credited with launching the Young Maori Party.

Reweti Kohere has been for wellnigh thirty years a member of the Matakaoa County Council and for twenty years chairman of the East Cape School Committee. He was for a term chairman of the Te Araroa High School Advisory Committee and the Te Araroa Tribal Committee.

He has now in hand four Maori MSS ready for publication.