Posted by Rongo Ruwhiu Topine
on June 9, 2012, 9:17 pm, in reply to "Re: My Grandparents Pou Te Rata and Wikitoria Tarawa Te Whata"
222.155.4.181
Hi Taamati
So nice to hear from you. I remember your grandfather Papaku and grandmother Rangi very well.
Your great grandfather Pou Te Rata I also remember because we all lived together at Nukutawhiti from early 1941 until he died in 1945. I was 8years old when he died.After my mum and father seperated about 1940 we moved back to Nukutawhiti from Otaua to live with our karani Pou Te Rata and my mum looked after him and the youngest child Iwa your grandfather Papaku's sister she was the baby and also myself and my 3 brothers, Titi, and twins Maki and Fred.
Karani was a very sick man he was an asthmatic had a very hard life after his wife Wikitoria died in 1928 leaving 6 little children between the ages of 12years and 10months old. My mum Atareta (or Reta as she was known then) was 12years had to leave school to help look after them.
He took my twin brothers Fred and Maki to school on their first day in 1945 and afew weeks later he died of his illness.
I hope eventually to receive a photo of him.
Arohanui Rongo
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