Wiremu Te Awhitu
Encyclopedia
Wiremu Hakopa Toa Te Awhitu (28 July 1914 - 29 July 1994) was the first Māori to be ordained a Roman Catholic
priest.
Born at Okahukura near Taumarunui
, he was the third of 10 children of Tamakaitoa (Toa) Te Awhitu and his wife Katarina Toia Bell. His family belonged to the Ngāti Hauaroa and Ngāti Maniapoto
iwi
. His early education was at Ongarue and Okahukura schools. At Okahukura he was influenced by headmaster R. A. Watson, known to Māori as Te Miro Watihana, an English convert to Catholicism, who also gave local children religious lessons, working with the Mill Hill priests. Through the efforts of Watson and the Mill Hill priests, Wiremu attended St Peter's Māori College
, Northcote
, Auckland
, in 1931–32. Watson, also then living in Auckland, taught him to master English. Te Awhitu practised Māori crafts and became a skilled carver and artist. He then attended St. Patrick's College, Silverstream
to prepare for Mount St Mary's Seminary
, Greenmeadows
, which he entered in 1936.
He was ordained a priest in St Patrick’s Church, Napier
, on 17 December 1944 by Bishop Liston of Auckland
and celebrated his first Mass
the following day in the church of the Immaculate Conception
at Pakipaki. He was stationed in 1945-46 at Otaki
, and then spent 11 years at Meeanee and Pakipaki in Hawke's Bay
. He was a member of the Hawke’s Bay Māori mission, and his pastoral area extended from Wairoa
to Dannevirke
.
In 1958 he suffered a severe stroke which left him unable to speak. He convalesced at Hato Paora College
, Feilding, and by 1966 was able to resume his ministry. He spent time at Waitara
and Normanby
in Taranaki. In 1968 he moved to Jerusalem
on the Whanganui River
, and was there when James K. Baxter
established his commune. He was one of the poet’s religious instructors, and in 1972 headed the priests celebrating Baxter’s requiem mass.
Wiremu Te Awhitu retired to Okahukura in 1989 where he died in 1994. His tangi
was held at Ngapuwaiwaha marae, Taumarunui
, and his requiem mass was celebrated in the church of the Immaculate Conception, Taumarunui. He was buried in the family cemetery at Okahukura, on the banks of the Ongarue River
.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
priest.
Born at Okahukura near Taumarunui
Taumarunui
Taumarunui is a town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 4 and the North Island Main Trunk Railway....
, he was the third of 10 children of Tamakaitoa (Toa) Te Awhitu and his wife Katarina Toia Bell. His family belonged to the Ngāti Hauaroa and Ngāti Maniapoto
Ngati Maniapoto
Ngāti Maniapoto is an iwi based in the Waikato-Waitomo region of New Zealand's North Island. It is part of the Tainui confederation, the members of which trace their whakapapa back to people who arrived in New Zealand on the waka Tainui...
iwi
Iwi
In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...
. His early education was at Ongarue and Okahukura schools. At Okahukura he was influenced by headmaster R. A. Watson, known to Māori as Te Miro Watihana, an English convert to Catholicism, who also gave local children religious lessons, working with the Mill Hill priests. Through the efforts of Watson and the Mill Hill priests, Wiremu attended St Peter's Māori College
Hato Petera College, Auckland
Hato Petera College is an integrated, boarding and day co-educational college in Northcote Central, Auckland, New Zealand for students in Year 9 to Year 13. The school has a strong Catholic and Māori character...
, Northcote
Northcote, New Zealand
Northcote is a suburb of North Shore City, one of several cities in the Auckland metropolitan area in northern New Zealand. It is located on the north shore of the Waitemata Harbour, four kilometres northwest of the Auckland city centre....
, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, in 1931–32. Watson, also then living in Auckland, taught him to master English. Te Awhitu practised Māori crafts and became a skilled carver and artist. He then attended St. Patrick's College, Silverstream
St. Patrick's College, Silverstream
St Patrick's College is an Integrated Catholic boys' day and boarding Secondary School located in Silverstream, Upper Hutt, New Zealand. It was established by the Society of Mary in 1931 when the original St Patrick's College, Wellington was intended to be moved to a larger site more suited to a...
to prepare for Mount St Mary's Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, Greenmeadows
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
, which he entered in 1936.
He was ordained a priest in St Patrick’s Church, Napier
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
, on 17 December 1944 by Bishop Liston of Auckland
James Michael Liston
James Michael Liston, CMG was the Seventh Catholic Bishop of Auckland.-Early life:James Michael Liston was born in Dunedin on 9 June 1881, one of a family of five children of James Liston, a hotel-keeper, and his wife, Mary . His parents were both born in Ireland. He was educated at Kavanagh...
and celebrated his first Mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
the following day in the church of the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
at Pakipaki. He was stationed in 1945-46 at Otaki
Otaki
Otaki may refer to:*Ōtaki , a parliamentary electorate in New Zealand*Otaki, New Zealand, a town in New Zealand*Otaki River, a river in New Zealand*Ōtaki, Chiba, a town in Japan*Ōtaki, Saitama, a former village in Japan...
, and then spent 11 years at Meeanee and Pakipaki in Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:...
. He was a member of the Hawke’s Bay Māori mission, and his pastoral area extended from Wairoa
Wairoa
Wairoa is a town in New Zealand's North Island. It is the northernmost town in the Hawke's Bay region, and is located on the northern shore of Hawke Bay at the mouth of the Wairoa River and to the west of Mahia Peninsula...
to Dannevirke
Dannevirke
Dannevirke , is a rural service town in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of the North Island, New Zealand. It is the major town of the administrative Tararua District, the easternmost of the districts in which the Regional Council has responsibilities...
.
In 1958 he suffered a severe stroke which left him unable to speak. He convalesced at Hato Paora College
Hato Paora College
Hato Paora College is a Catholic, Māori Boys' Boarding school located near Cheltenham, Feilding, New Zealand. It was founded in 1947 under the leadership of Marist Priest, Isaac J Gupwell.-Notable Alumni:...
, Feilding, and by 1966 was able to resume his ministry. He spent time at Waitara
Waitara, New Zealand
Waitara is the name of a town and a river in the northern part of the Taranaki Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Waitara is located just off State Highway 3, 15 km northeast of New Plymouth....
and Normanby
Normanby, Taranaki
Normanby is a small village in South Taranaki, New Zealand. It is approximately 6 km inland from Hawera along State Highway 3. Eltham is 13 km further north...
in Taranaki. In 1968 he moved to Jerusalem
Jerusalem, New Zealand
Jerusalem was once an important kainga on the Whanganui River in New Zealand where a Roman Catholic mission was first established in 1854....
on the Whanganui River
Whanganui River
The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand.Known for many years as the Wanganui River, the river's name reverted to Whanganui in 1991, according with the wishes of local iwi. Part of the reason was also to avoid confusion with the Wanganui River in the South Island...
, and was there when James K. Baxter
James K. Baxter
James Keir Baxter was a poet, and is a celebrated figure in New Zealand society.-Biography:Baxter was born in Dunedin to Archibald Baxter and Millicent Brown and grew up near Brighton. He was named after James Keir Hardie, a founder of the British Labour Party. His father had been a conscientious...
established his commune. He was one of the poet’s religious instructors, and in 1972 headed the priests celebrating Baxter’s requiem mass.
Wiremu Te Awhitu retired to Okahukura in 1989 where he died in 1994. His tangi
Tangihanga
Tangihanga, or more commonly, Tangi, is a Māori funeral rite.Each iwi differs on how they honour those who pass. Tangihanga generally take three days with burial on the third day. From the moment of death, the tūpāpaku is rarely alone. The tūpāpaku is transported to the marae...
was held at Ngapuwaiwaha marae, Taumarunui
Taumarunui
Taumarunui is a town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 4 and the North Island Main Trunk Railway....
, and his requiem mass was celebrated in the church of the Immaculate Conception, Taumarunui. He was buried in the family cemetery at Okahukura, on the banks of the Ongarue River
Ongarue River
The Ongarue River is a river of the Waikato and Manawatu-Wanganui Regions of New Zealand's North Island. A major tributary of the Whanganui River, it flows west then south from its sources in the Hauhungaroa Range northwest of Lake Taupo, passing through the town of Taumarunui before reaching the...
.
Sources
- John Newton, The Double Rainbow: James K. Baxter, Ngāti Hau and the Jerusalem Commune, Victoria University Press, Wellington, 2009.