Hoani Waititi was born at Cape Runaway, the son of Te Kuaha (Dick) Waititi and Kirimatao Heremia Waititi. He was educated at Cape Runaway School, St Stephen’s School and Te Aute College. He continued his studies at Auckland University and graduated with a B.A. In 1943 Waititi joined the Air Force and later transferred to the army and served with the Māori Battalion in Italy. After his discharge from the army in 1946, he studied at Auckland Teachers’ College for two years and in 1949 taught at Te Kaha Māori District High School and Nuhaka Māori School. From 1949-1957 Waititi taught at St Stephen’s School and then became an itinerant teacher specialising in Māori studies teacher. He also tutored at the University of Auckland’s adult education centre. He wrote a series of Māori language study books for use in high schools. He was Māori language officer for the Education Department and later was appointed assistant officer for Māori education. Waititi taught te reo Māori and culture at Ardmore Training College, St Stephen’s College, Queen Victoria College and at Auckland Girls’ Grammar School. He was very instrumental in encouraging young people to achieve their potential through the pursuit of academic studies, and he raised money for young Māori achievers to further their studies overseas. Waititi was one of the founders of the Māori Education Foundation which assisted people with their academic studies. He had strong affiliations with his home marae Kauaetangohia in Cape Runaway. Waititi was a New Zealand tennis umpire. He died at the age of thirty-nine and Hoani Waititi Marae was named in his memory.
Biographical sources
- Phone conversation with June Mariu on 5 July 1998.
- Rikihana, Toby. "Coming to Auckland: Impressions of A Māori Student." Te Ao Hou 27 (1959): 36-39.
- Dansey, Harry. "Haere e Te Ao Hou: In Memoriam: Hoani Waititi." Te Ao Hou 53 (1965): 6-9.
Non-fiction
- "Outline of Auckland, N.Z.’s Māori History." Journal of the Auckland Historical Society 2.1 (1963): 8-12.
- Understanding the Māori. Auckland, N.Z.: Dept. of Education, 1964.
- "The Story of Tamahae." Historical Review: Journal of the Whakatane and District Historical Society 15.2 (Aug. 1967): 142-146.
- An edited version by John Waititi.
Other
- Te Rangatahi 1: A Māori Language Course. Wellington, N.Z.: Published in conjunction with the Dept. of Education, 1962. Rev. ed. 1970. Rpt. 1972. Republished as: Te Rangatahi. Tuatahi 1: A Māori Language Course For Adult Students. 3rd ed. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer published in conjunction with Dept. of Education, 1974.
- The first in a series of Māori language course books for third form and higher level students. In his preface to the revised edition G. P. Kelly writes that ‘[t]he general principles of method and presentation used by the author, the late Hoani Retimana Waititi, have not been changed; they have, however, been extended and more fully developed. The significant features of the revision are that the number of chapters in each book is reduced, that the exercises accompanying each chapter are of greater variety and number, and that each book of the course will cover 1 year’s work.’
- Te Rangatahi 2: "Ka Hao Te Rangatahi"/"The New Net Goes A-Fishing": A Māori Language Course. Illus. Conrad Frieboe. Wellington, N.Z.: Published in conjunction with the Dept. of Education, 1964. Rev. ed. 1972. Republished as Te Rangatahi 2: Ka Hao E Rangatahi/The New Net Goes Out Fishing. A Māori Language Course for Adult Students. 3rd ed. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer, 1974.
- G. P. Kelly writes in his preface to the revised edition, ‘[t]he original Book 1 contained fourteen chapters, of which seven were used for the revised Book 1, the second chapter being fresh material. For the revised Book 2, the remaining seven chapters of the original Book 1 and one chapter from the earlier Book 2 were used. For both revised books there has been a redevelopment of the material used for exercises and practice. The remaining chapters of the original Book 2 suggest themselves as excellent supplementary reading material, and the Māori Language Advisory Committee hopes to have this material published in book form.’
- Te Rangatahi 3. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer, 1978.
- Te Rangatahi: Elementary 1. A Māori Language Book. Wellington, N.Z.: P.D. Hasselberg, Govt. Publishing, 1984.
- Te Rangatahi: Elementary 2. A Māori Language Course. Wellington, N.Z.: P.D. Hasselberg, Govt. Printer, 1985.
- Te Rangatahi: Elementary 3. A Māori Language Book. Wellington, N.Z.: V.R.Ward, Govt. Printer, 1985.
- Te Rangatahi: Advanced 2. A Māori Language Course. Wellington, N.Z.: P.D. Hasselberg, Govt. Printer, 1985.
- Te Rangatahi Advanced 1. A Māori Language Course. Wellington, N.Z.: V.R.Ward, Govt. Publishing, 1986.
Non-fiction
- Dansey, Harry. "Haere e te Ao Hou! In Memoriam: Hoani Waititi." Te Ao Hou 53 (1965): 6-9.
- Peneti, Tiare Moihi. "He Poroporoaki." Te Ao Hou 53 (1965): 9.
- "Waititi Memorial." Te Ao Hou 55 (1966): 64.
- "John Waititi Memorial Scholarship." Te Ao Hou 57 (1966): 41+.
- Describes the huge contribution Waititi made in his dedication to advancing the cause of Māoridom and te reo Māori.
Other
- Benton, Richard A. Materials for Teaching And Learning The Māori Language: A Bibliography Of Published Materials For Teaching Māori To Speakers Of Other Languages. Wellington, N.Z.: New Zealand Council for Educational Research, 1979. 16-17.
- Taylor, C. R. H. A Bibliography of Publications on the New Zealand Māori and the Moriori of the Chatham Islands. Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, Oxford University Press, 1972. 23, 81, 90, 93, 131.
Reviews
Te Rangatahi Advanced 1
- McGregor, Helen. Te Karanga: Canterbury Māori Studies Association 2.1 (1986): 36.
Te Rangatahi Elementary 1
- McGregor, Helen. Te Karanga: Canterbury Māori Studies Association 2.1 (1986): 36.
Te Rangatahi I
- M.O. Te Ao Hou 46 (1964): 55-56.