Whakaahua Tīpuna/Whānau
Last month Te Pānui Rūnaka published this image on the back page and requested names or information be provided about the photograph, which was titled ‘Māori Kāika, Akaroa’.

Whānau members made contact with us to advise names, which are listed below. Our thanks and appreciation for this information go to Aroha Reid, Raymond Te Aho Barry and Pere Tainui.

This is the Puhirere whānau in front of and beside their whānau pātaka. The people are named as follows:

  1. Wiremu Te Ao (holding child), known as Little William.
  2. Amiria Puhirere Karaweko, known as Amiria Puhirere. She is the daughter of Wi Karaweko and Mere Whariu. Her name Puhirere was from Te Puhirere, who was the father of Wi Karaweko.
  3. Wi Karaweko, also known as Wiremu Harihona Puhirere Karaweko, also known as Big William.
  4. Wiremu’s wife, known as Mere Whariu or Mere Whariu Reka, also known as Big Mere. Wi Karaweko and Mere Whariu are sitting on the waka that Wi Karaweko built.
  5. Hoani Papita Karaweko, the son of Wi Karaweko and Mere Whariu. 
  6. Believed to be from the Hokianga whānau.
  7. Also believed to be from the Hokianga whānau.
  8. Hira Karaweko. 
  9. Kokone Karaweko. 
  10. Hera Karaweko. Hira, Kokene and Hera are the daughters of Wi Karaweko and Mere Whariu.
The Akaroa Kāika, possible between 1880-1881.

The Akaroa Kāika, possible between 1880-1881.