Wiremu Hakopa Toa Te Awhitu began his life near Taumarunui on 28th July 1914. He was born into a family who became Catholic, Katarina (nee Bell, called Toia) and Tamakaitoa (called Toa) Te Awhitu of Ngati Haua.

He was one of twelve children!

Wiremu has been described as a true son of the King Country.

An accomplished footballer and athlete and a great singer, he also practised Maori crafts and was a skilled carver.

An English immigrant, Robin Watson, who was a teacher at the local Okahukura Maori school, won the respect of the locals who named him Te Miro Watihana.

Wiremu was given to him in sacred trust as a foster son and Robin took him with him to St Peter's Maori Rural Training School in Auckland.

Wiremu felt called to the spiritual through the influence of Mill Hill Religious who had been close to his parents and family. They found a place for him at St Patrick's College Silverstream (1932-1935) and if was from there Wiremu went to train as a Marist Religious and Priest within the Society of Mary.

Various appointments followed his ordination, beginning in Otaki (1945) then Hawkes Bay (1947-1958), where he was based at Pakipaki near Hastings. His ministry covered the large area from Wairoa to Dannevirke.

In 1958 he suffered a major stroke leaving him unable to speak. Moving to Hato Paora College, Feilding, it took him eight years regain his speech and basic health.

After a short time in Taranaki (1966-1968) the next twenty-one years of his life was spent at Hiruharama (Jerusalem) on the Whanganui River.

There he was closely associated with the Sisters of Compassion.

His daily routine included reciting the Rosary, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Mass in the little Church of St Joseph.

All this combined that with the maintenance of the church and its surroundings.

In 1989, in what turned out to be his final move, he went to live with his sister in Otara, and then to his home marae at Okahukura (just north of Taumarunui) where he worked to set up a family marae.

Wiremu named it after Mary, Whanau Maria (‘Mary's Family') with the intention to provide a place to strengthen family ties and faith. Each year this is the focal point of an annual celebration of his life which takes place on the last Saturday of July.

Pa Wiremu Hakopa Toa Te Awhitu died on 29th July 1994, aged 80 and in his 50th year of Marist Priesthood.

Pa Wiremu Te Awhitu SM with Bishop Takuira Mariu SM

Why is his life important?

His nephew, Wiremu Te Awhitu, captures his importance for us.

"Uncle bravely linked being fully Maori with being fully Christian".

"In an age that continues to search to be true to being indigenous and to Faith, Pa Te Awhitu provides a model", his nephew says.

His courage and determined patience enabled him to take up ministry again. He provides inspiration for those who suffer from some disability and gives hope to those who suffer a stroke or face some major setback in life.

What do people say about him?

The late Bishop Takuira Mariu SM described Pa Wiremu as a "prayerful, hard-working person, devoted to Mary, committed to his people, gentle, big-hearted and welcoming. He had a spirituality springing from someone at peace with God, the world and himself".

That conviction is echoed by the late James K Baxter. "Te Atua sends me a good instructor in Father Te Awhitu.His few words have the weight of wedges splitting timber. His soul speaks of God because it is at rest in God", Baxter said of Pa Te Awhitu's reflections,

Bishop Steve Lowe, Bishop of Hamilton Diocese, sees Fr Te Awhitu as a source of faith and inspiration for the country. "I like the picture showing Fr Te Awhitu smiling. He inspires us in that he could smile despite the cross he carried".

Robin Watson, his foster father and tutor, speaks of Pa Te Awhitu's love of Mary. "The Mother of God must have had something to do with this Vocation".

Father David Gledhill SM, who was his Marist community and ministry leader at Whanganui, notes, "When I attended Eucharist with Pa, he showed an awareness of the very special presence of God in the Eucharist. He had an extraordinary insight into the Eucharist".

What heritage does Fr Te Awhitu leave us?

Fr Te Awhitu brings us a challenge.

It took 100 years from the time of Bishop Pompallier's first Mass in the Hokianga to ordain a Maori as a Catholic priest. We need his example and intercession to discern and support other vocations among Maori.

Pa Te Awhitu is a person of whom tangata whenua can be proud.

He is one of their own.

He can call us to select and support Catechists among Maori and to seek candidates for religious and priestly life.

These personal characteristics along with his position as the first Maori pries were echoed by Archbishop Liston at Fr Te Awhitu's first Mass in 1944! "May many other Maori come to the altar of God..."

Bishop Lowe speaks of the legacy of "our own Pa Wiremu Te Awhitu.

A courageous priest and person of faith, a legacy deeply rooted in the soil of generations past, present and most surely to live on in generations to come".

Not least for his down-to-earth holiness, some argue Pa Te Awhitu is an Aotearoa saint waiting to be fully recognised.

Or from Pa Te Awhitu himself: "All I can say is that my whole life shall remain an act of thanksgiving to God who in his infinite mercy has chosen me to be his priest.. for His glory and for the salvation of my own dear people, the Maori race". (Pa Te Awhitu at his first Mass).

A proverb quoted by a kaumatua at the time of Pa Te Awhitu's ordination captures the heritage of Fr Te Awhitu for us.

To seek the peace that comes from sensitive and sincere meeting across cultures.
Te ihu me te rae tukuna

Houhia te rongo
When persons meet (hongi)

Peace holds sway.

See also: The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography

Some would argue he is an Aotearoa saint waiting to be recognised.

Every year people from the Hamilton Diocese and beyond gather at his birthplace Okahukura, north of Taumarunui to celebrate his life.

His family have a marae there dedicated to Mary. It is called Whanau Maria.

Currently, they are rebuilding it to make it more suitable to welcome visitors.

A welcome powhiri at ten was followed by a visit to the urupa where the rosary was recited.

Then people returned to the marae where the Eucharist was celebrated by the bishop of Hamilton Steve Lowe.

The parish priest, Fr Lawrie Bishop and Fr David Gledhill concelebrated.

The local parish fully supports the occasion. They sang the parts of the Mass with a chant composed by Richard Puanaki of Wairoa.

Richard's faith is the direct result of Pa Wiremu's early ministry in Wairoa.

Lowe speaks of the legacy of "our own Pa Wiremu Te Awhitu... courageous priest and man of faith... a legacy deeply rooted in the soil of generations past, present and most surely to live on in generations to come."

Pa Wiremu grew up in Okahukura the third of 10 children. He lived till he was 80 (1914-1994).

He was a true son of the King Country and was an accomplished footballer and athlete who practised Maori crafts and was a skilled carver.

He was formed by the Mill Hill Fathers and attended Hato Petera and St Patrick's College Silverstream.

He was ordained in 1944.

His priestly ministry was brought to an abrupt stop by a severe stroke in 1958, while he was serving in Wairoa.

He moved to Hato Paora College, Feilding. There he slowly re-learned enough speech to celebrate the Eucharist again.

Pa Wiremu spent the last 36 years of life struggling to speak and minister.

Much of that time was spent at Jerusalem on the Whanganui River.

He is possibly a candidate for sainthood not only as he was the first Maori priest, but because of his down to earth holiness.

And he could be hailed as the intercessor for those who suffer a disability.

The late Bishop Mariu SM describes Pa Wiremu as a "prayerful, hard-working person, devoted to Mary, committed to his people, gentle, big-hearted and welcoming with a spirituality springing from someone at peace with God and the world."

Poet James K Baxter used to attend his Eucharist and said of his reflections "Te Atua sends me a good instructor in Father Te Awhitu. His few words have the weight of wedges splitting timber. His soul speaks of God because it is at rest in God."

Gledhill was Fr Te Awhitu's Superior at Whanganui. He notes: "When I attended Eucharist with Pa, Pa showed an awareness of the very special presence in the Eucharist. Fr Te Awhitu had an extraordinary insight into the Eucharist."

Click here to read the biography of Pa Wiremu Hakopa Toa Te Awhitu in Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.

Source

Supplied: Pa Piripi Cody

The venue was appropriate as Kingi was ordained at this marae by Bishop Snedden.

It was the first time a Maori priest had been ordained on a marae.

Various priests, religious Sisters and Brothers joined Fr Karaitiana and his family for the day. Bishop Peter Cullinane made a special effort to come.

Fr Jack Smith, a Maori priest from Gisborne, was also present. He too had been ordained on the Takitimu Marae.

While there were representatives from the Maori Catholic Colleges, Hato Paora and Hato Hohepa, Kingi said it was more convenient for him to go to the Colleges to celebrate with them there rather than lots of pupils travelling to Wairoa.

Kingi said, "I give thanks to God, to my late parents and all my family and each one present."

Holding a tewhatewha, he said "This is a symbolic weapon which I use to combat evil in myself, in you and in the world. One side captures my Maori cultural life; one side is my spiritual journey".

The marae was graced by photos of various deceased who have been part of Karaitiana's life.

They were surrounded by roses. These came from his garden. This was linked with Kingi's favourite saint, Thérèse of Lisieux who is known as St Theresa of the roses. "I have learnt a simple approach to life from her", he said.

All then went into the whare tupuna for Eucharist.

The Gospel was read by Kingi's Marist community leader, Fr Arthur Toothill.

The liturgy was led by Richard Puanaki and Malissa Paul.

A highlight of the liturgy was Cullinane presenting Kingi with a blessing from Pope Francis.

The hakari was coordinated by two of Kingi's nephews who are training as chefs! The wider whanau rallied around them to help.

After the meal, various speakers covered different periods of Fr Kingi's life.

This included his family and college life, his Marist life and his life of ministry.

Pa Karaitiana was the final speaker. He expressed full gratitude for his 50 years of ministry. He then concluded the celebration with a blessing for each person present.

Source

Supplied: Pa Piripi

Pa was ordained at Mohaka Marae by Bishop Peter Cullinane on 6 February 1988 and served in the parishes of Hawera, Taradale, New Plymouth, Patea and Waverley, Hastings West, Central Hawkes Bay and Whanganui. Continue reading

His priestly ministry was focused on strengthening Maori Catholics as both Maori and Catholic.

His sudden death follows the recent deaths of two other priests who spent many years working with Maori Catholics.

Fr Wim Tuerlings, a Mill Hill priest died in the Netherlands on 2 December. He worked in Maori ministry from 1965, for all of but two years, till he retired in 2009.

Fr (Patrick) Lorenzo Bracken, also a Mill Hill worked for 27 years in Maori ministry.
He died Ireland on 5 December.

Hemi Hekiera was an enthusiastic and persistent man. Once he had set a course, golf or otherwise, he never gave up.

One of his favourite sayings on the golf course, or other times he may have seemed cornered, was 'Double or quits'!!

He applied that to all aspects of his life.

Hemi was also a person of vision; he was the founder and guiding light of Waka Aroha, a programme that formed many Maori lay people for ministry.

His mission for the last 20 years at Hato Paora, Feilding, Te Kuiti, Hamilton was Whaia Te Whaea - Follow the Mother, providing pastoral care and guidance to Maori communities in support of Maori themselves inculturating the Gospel in their local area

Hemi was a 'rolling stone that gathers no moss'. He was a ball of energy.

One time he discharged himself from hospital and, carrying his drip, watched a rugby game at Hato Paora.

This energy was open to do what was needed.

He was a big picture man, who often left the details for others to work out.

Another of his sayings was, "let's play it by ear."

Because Hemi worked in so many places through New Zealand he had friends all over the country.

He particularly enjoyed the company of his brothers in the diocesan priesthood.

Hemi's Tangihanga was held at Puniho Marae, Taranaki.

A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St Joseph's, New Plymouth, on Tuesday at 11.a.m followed by burial at Parihaka.

He tohunga no te tikanga o Merikiheriki. Haere e pa i raro i te korowai o Meri Takakau.

Source

• notices.nzherald.co.nz
• proudtobecatholic.org.nz
• proudtobecatholic.org.nz
• Father Philip Cody
• Image: Supplied