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A Piece of History Saved in Rotorua

At a Hearing on Friday 13th of May 2011, The Rotorua Maori Land Court determined ownership of 110 year old cottage belonging to prominent Te Arawa tupuna Te Uruoteao “Pompey” Rika who died in 1968. His grandson Michael Rika said Pompey was the son of Hare or Charles “Rika” Werohia a Ngapuhi tohunga reputed to be a descendant of Hongi Hika. Pompey's grandmother was Mere Riwai and who was also known as Mere Werohia. Michael the former owner of the cottage has tranferred ownership to the Robert Rika Whanau Trust, He said it now comes under the protection of the Maori Land Court now that ownership has been determined. This is a relief he added "because I believe it to be a wahi tapu".

Mr Rika is convinced that on the balance of probabilities most of the pito and whenua (placenta and umbilical cords) of his aunties and uncles may have been buried near a tall Ti Kouka (cabbage tree) near the NW corner of the cottage, including his own in 1944.

The cabbage tree contracted a disease and was removed. Mr Rika's wife Ann planted another tree in the same location where it remains today.

There had been attempts a few years ago to demolish the cottage by family members because it had become a “bit of an eyesore” but were warned by kaumatua not to. Mr Rika said his grandfather was the son of Maria Te Rua Kahurangi who lived at Arataua on the foreshore of Lake Rotorua near the mouth of the Utuhina stream. The cottage stands on the land which according to Mr Rika was once the horse stables of Gilbert Mair's Arawa Flying column under the command of L/Cpl Henare Werahiko a member of the armed constabulary. Mr Rika said the cottage which is unoccupied has cultural significance to his late father, himself, his wife and his son Simon who lived in it for many years and were the last to occupy it. Mr Rika had spent thousands of dollars and energy preserving its original condition, which was acknowledged by the Court.






IMPORTANT LEGAL DETAILS

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GO TO MIKE RIKA'S BLOG FOR MORE DETAILS