Riwai Te Kiore was a Rangatira tuturu of Te Ahumua. He lived on his pa behind the Thames racecourse at Te Amoriro previously called Hauraki.
There are many stories of Riwai found in "Papers past" and the Hauraki Native Land Court minute books. He died in 1879 aged 79 and was reported to have been buried at Haikema urupa behind the racecource members stand. There is no monument or tombstone for Riwai at Haikema and no one knew where he was buried. His son Nikorima was supposed to have been buried next to him but while Nikorima has a large tombstone, there is nothing there for Riwai. Like Taraia, and those other great Chiefs (who died before 1880), it is likely Riwai was spirited away after the burial to an unknown place, never to be found.
For such a great Chief and his dealings with Grey, MacKay, and other officials no photograph or painting of Riwai has ever been identified.
Riwai Te Kiore was a Rangatira tuturu of Te Ahumua. He lived on his pa behind the Thames racecourse at Te Amoriro previously called Hauraki.
ReplyDeleteThere are many stories of Riwai found in "Papers past" and the Hauraki Native Land Court minute books. He died in 1879 aged 79 and was reported to have been buried at Haikema urupa behind the racecource members stand. There is no monument or tombstone for Riwai at Haikema and no one knew where he was buried. His son Nikorima was supposed to have been buried next to him but while Nikorima has a large tombstone, there is nothing there for Riwai. Like Taraia, and those other great Chiefs (who died before 1880), it is likely Riwai was spirited away after the burial to an unknown place, never to be found.
For such a great Chief and his dealings with Grey, MacKay, and other officials no photograph or painting of Riwai has ever been identified.