Page 189 - Puhipi

Te Aitanga a Tumoana

Anglican priesthood. He became the first Maori to be ordained deacon without first going to St John's
College in Auckland. The ceremony took place on 12 May 1940 at Otiria marae, Moerewa. He was in
his late 60s. Frederick Bennett, Anglican bishop of Aotearoa, conducted the service and had
persuaded the bishop of Auckland, W. J. Simkin, that the ordination should go ahead. Naru was
licensed to minister in the Maori district of Whangape. Simkin did not, however, approve full
ordination as a priest. He could not reconcile his views on what he considered to be tohungaism with
the Christian priesthood. Naru had no such conflict and practised both Maori and Anglican forms of
ministry, including healing.

He travelled throughout Aotearoa and had visited Ratana pa at its beginnings. Wiremu Ratana wanted
him to be a minister of the new Maori church, but Naru declined. Naru's wife, Maraea, died in 1941
aged 65. On 26 February 1944 at Whangape, Naru married Ngarui Heiwari (also known as Ngahiraka
Rapata). He was in his early 70s and she was 62.

Naru Ngawaka died at Whangape on 15 August 1964 and was buried there. He was survived by
Ngarui, and two daughters and two sons from his first marriage (unconfirmed). Naru was an
acknowledged authority on whakapapa, Maori custom, illness and sacred places, te Tiriti o Waitangi,
and the Bible. He gained a reputation as a brilliant speaker and preacher in both Maori and English.
His ability to heal and his gift of foresight are said to have come from his ancestors Tiari, Ere and
Iehu. An advocate for the effective use of Maori land, he gained prominence as a champion of Maori
rights under te Tiriti o Waitangi. Like Ngata, Peter Buck, Te Puea Herangi and Whina Cooper, he was
one of the new generation of Maori leaders serving and leading their people into the twentieth
century.
Anaru marena Maraea Wetini [1017] [MRIN: 426]. Maraea was born in 1876 and died in 1941 at age 65.
Rapunga Kupu Akoako: Ngati Whatua

Na Tamariki o te Marena:
313 F i. Akinihi Miki Leef Ngawaka [1023].
Akinihi marena Joseph Leef [2029] [MRIN: 862]. Marriage status: close marriage.
Rapunga Kupu Akoako: This is a "blank" entry to avoid duplication. Refer RIN474.
314 M ii. Pera Ngawaka [1024].
315 F iii. Tottie Ngawaka [1025].
316 M iv. Pomare Ngawaka [1026].

317 F v. Te Puku Ngawaka [1027].
318 F vi. Peru Ngawaka [1028].
319 F vii. Raiha Ngawaka [1029].
Anaru marena ano Ngahiraka Raroa Rapata [1018] [MRIN: 427] on 26 Feb 1944 in Whangape. They
had no children.

11
12
13
10
175. Parore Ngawaka [977] (Iehu Ngawaka , Tiari , Kahi , TARUTARU ,
7
8
9
4
5
6
TeUruKauri , Tumaingarua , Taranga , Toakai , Patito , Houpure ,
1
3
2
Tamamoko , Tamahotu , TUMOANA ) died about 1915-1918 in Whangape and was
buried in Hautapoki Urupa, Whangape.
Rapunga Kupu Akoako: Refer RIN1377.
Parore marena Ani Te Paa [1378] [MRIN: 428]. Marriage status: close marriage.
Rapunga Kupu Akoako: This is a "blank" entry to avoid duplication. Refer to
RIN1019
Parore Ngawaka