Manukotohau Apanui was born in Opape, Ōpōtiki, and educated at Ōmarumutu Native School, Ōpōtiki, Wesley College, Paerata, and Massey University. He worked as a wool classer and wrote about the history of the Whakatōhea tribe, confiscation of lands, and whakapapa. A. C. Lyall used material written by Apanui in his book Whakatōhea. His diary of the 1940s still remains with his family and contains a daily account in te reo Māori of his time in the army in Europe and his travels to the USA.
Biographical sources
- Phone conversation with Hinera Biddle on 12 Feb. 1998.
- Correspondence with Mrs T. P. Biddle on 4 Feb. 1993.
Non-fiction
- "Comment On The Foregoing Article Offered By Manu Apanui Of Whakatōhea." Historical Review: Journal of the Whakatane and District Historical Society 19 (May 1971): 40, 43.
- Apanui discusses various points in A. C. Lyall’s article, "The Story and Origin Of Te Whakatōhea" which is published in the same edition of the Historical Review: Journal of the Whakatane and District Historical Society Inc. New Zealand 19 (May 1971): 35-39.
- ‘Notes and Queries: No. 51. "The Mataatua Question" in Relation to Muriwai. Vide Memoir No. 7 by A. C. Lyall, page 35.’ Historical Review: Journal of the Whakatane and District Historical Society 19 (May 1971): 66-67.
- Apanui takes issue with points raised by A. C. Lyall in "The Mataatua Question", concerning the boundaries of Mataatua, and the identity of the speaker of "E! Kia whakatane ake au i ahu".