Reweti Tuhorouta Mokena Kohere

Ngāti Porou

1871 - 1954



Reweti Kohere was born at Orutua near the East Cape, the eldest son of Hone Hiki Kohere and Henarata Pereto, and grandson of the Hon. Mokena Kohere, one of the first Māori appointed to the Legislative Council. He was educated at Waiomatatini Native School, and Gisborne Central School for a year and a half. In 1885 he was accepted as a student at Te Aute College. Within five years he passed the matriculation and was dux of the college in his final year. He was appointed to the Te Aute College staff in 1891 and then went on to study at the Canterbury University College in Christchurch and passed all his B.A. papers except for one difficult Mathematics paper. Later he was appointed assistant tutor at Te Rau Theological College in Gisborne, during which time he gained a L.Th degree in 1911. Kohere became the editor of Te Pipiwharauroa, a Māori language paper established by Rev. F. A. Bennett, which was published at Te Rau College; he held the position of editor until 1908 when he moved to Te Araroa to take charge of the Kawakawa pastorate. In 1904 he married Keita Kaikiri Paratene and taught in several schools including Te Aute. After working in the Te Kawakawa pastorate for thirteen years, he retired and went into farming on family land at Rangiata station on the East Cape. For thirty years he was a member of the Matakaoa County Council.

Kohere was a prolific writer and contributed articles to Te Kopara and Te Toa Takitini. He wrote articles for some 50 years for the Poverty Bay Herald and Te Ao Hou in both Māori and English. He was also an active correspondent with the Gisborne Herald. In the early issues of Te Ao Hou, Kohere published a number of articles on traditional Māori poetry and was the author of several books including his own autobiography. He wrote the manuscript of a book entitled “Thornton of Te Aute,” which was lost and never published. Only two manuscripts were completed before his death: one was a collection of his writings in Te Pipiwharauroa, and the other which was entitled The Māori as Marsden Knew Him which contained quotations from Elder’s The Letters and Journals of Samuel Marsden. He was the last survivor of the original members of the Young Māori Party. In the search for a candidate for the Māori Bishop, Kohere was theunanimous choice of the Auckland Diocesan Māori clergy, but he declined the nomination. He held a first-grade interpreter’s licence. Rarawa Kohere writes of Kohere: “Perceiving the importance of language to the survival of Māori culture, Reweti compiled a collection of the best of his own and other contributions to Māori newspapers. (These were published in 1995 as Nga Kōrero a Reweti Kohere Mā.) In 1949, with the aid of the New Zealand Literary Fund, he published The Story of a Māori Chief, a biography of Mokena Kohere; and, in 1951, his own story, The Autobiography of a Māori. These books, written in English, were followed by He Konae Aronui, a collection of Māori proverbs. He found it ironic and a source of contention that it was easier to publish in English than in Māori. He continued writing and publishing material such as song-poetry (waiata-moteatea) and accounts of tradition up to the time of his death. He condemned the use of transliteration in place of existing Māori words but, in the interests of good communication, advocated their use when there was no equivalent word in Māori….Special interest was the translation of his favourite verses from English into Māori. He made his own translations of many passages from Shakespeare and other writers, as well as from the Bible.” Rarawa Kohere adds: “My grandfather was a most prolific writer. On average he was contributing about one article per two months for over fifty years.” Many more articles are still to be researched and placed in this bibliography from the Gisborne Herald and other editions of Te Kopara.



Biographical sources

  • Correspondence from Rarawa Kohere on 8 June 1998.
  • Te Ao Hou 9 (1954): 3.
  • The Story of a Māori Chief: Mokena Kohere and His Forebears. Wellington, N.Z.: Reed, 1949. 101-102.
  • A. M. I. "Reweti Tuhurouta Kohere." Journal of the Polynesian Society 63 (1954): 258-259.
  • Kohere, Rarawa. "Kohere, Reweti Tuhorouta 1871-1954." The Dictionary of the New Zealand Biography. Vol. 3. 1901-1920. Auckland
  • Wellington, N.Z.: Auckland UP
  • Dept. of Internal Affairs, 1996. 266-268.

    Non-fiction

  • "The History of the Māori Church: Paper No. 2." Papers and Addresses Read Before the First Conference of the Te Aute College Students’ Association, February, 1897. Gisborne, N.Z.: Printed at the Herald Office, 1897. 6-10.
  • In this chronological history of the spread of Christianity amongst the Māori in the 19th century, Kohere notes that by 1897 the Christian gospel had been preached in New Zealand for 82 years. "By this time [the Māori] ought to have been one of the leading Christian peoples in the world, and... ought to have had the honour and privilege of helping in its evangelisation". Kohere discusses in detail the response of Ngāti Porou to Christianity and then outlines what he calls the general ‘decay’ of the church and its need for an awakening.
  • "A Model Pa." Papers and Addresses Read Before the Second Conference of the Te Aute College Students’ Association, December, 1897. Napier, N.Z.: Daily Telegraph Office, 1898. 19-22.
  • Kohere writes of improvements needed to upgrade the ‘average pa’. These include building pa on elevated ground in close proximity to fresh water supplies and away from swampy terrain. He also presses for education, regular employment, sports and ‘good Christian teaching’. This paper was written when Kohere was an undergraduate at Canterbury College.
  • "Te Kotahitanga O Nga Tamariki O Te Aute." Na Reweti Kohere i tuku mai. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 11 (1899): 2-3.
  • "Te Kotahitanga O Nga Tangata Kareti." Reweti Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 12 (1899): 2-3.
  • "Te Aute." Reweti T. Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 11 (1899). 3.
  • "Etahi Tamariki Māori." Reweti T. Kohere i tuku mai. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 12 (1899). 3-5.
  • "Te Urupa O Te Matenga." Reweti T. Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 13 (1899): 4-5.
  • "Te Whenua Kura I Porirua." Reweti Tuhorouta Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 14 (1899): 2-3.
  • "Te Mana O Ingarangi." Reweti T. Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 14 (1899). 6-7.
  • "Te Ao Katoa." R. T. M. K. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 14 (1899). 8.
  • "Te Etita O Te Pipiwharauroa." Reweti T. Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 15 (1899): 4.
  • "Etahi Mihini Whakamiharo." Reweti Tuhorouta Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 15 (1899). 4-6.
  • "Te Paremete." R. T. M. K. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 17 (1899): 2-3.
  • "Hamoa." R. T. Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 18 (1899): 3-4.
  • "Te Pipiwharauroa." Reweti T. Mokena Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 18 (1899). 7.
  • "Te Pipiwharauroa." R. T. Mokena Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 19 (1899): 2-3.
  • "Kui! Kui! Whitiwhitiora!" Reweti T. Mokena Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 20 (1899): 2-3.
  • "Tereiwhu." R. T. M. K. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 20 (1899). 4-6.
  • "He Whakahoki." Reweti T. M. Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 22 (1899): 6-7.
  • "Te Rere-Rangi." R. T. M. K. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 24 (1900): 4.
  • "Te Ripeka Whero." R. T. M. K. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 25 (1900): 8.
  • "Nga Take O Te Whawhai Ki Taranawaara." Reweti T. Mokena Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 26 (1900): 6-7.
  • "Te Mihini Tuku Kōrero." R. T. M. K. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 27 (1900): 2.
  • "Kuini Wikitoria." Reweti T. Mokena Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 27 (1900). 4-5.
  • "E Hiruharama!" Reweti T. M. Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 28 (1900): 2-3.
  • "Panuitanga." Reweti T. M. Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 29 (1900): 11.
  • "He Kupu No Te Matauranga." R. T. M. Kohere. Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 32 (1900): 3.
  • "Nga Kōrero O Rore Rapata." Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 34 (1900): 6-8.
  • "Te Arawhata ki Te Matauranga." Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 34 (1900): 11-13.
  • "Nga Whaea." Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 34 (1900): 16.
  • Te Pipiwharauroa - He Kupu Whakamarama. Gisborne, N.Z.: H. W. Williams, 1899-1913.
  • This monthly Māori language journal was established by Rev. F. A. Bennett, was published at Te Rau College and was edited by Kohere until 1908.
  • "Karakia Hauhau." R. T. K. Te Kopara 73 (1920): 1-5.
  • "Nga Whakatau A Tiati Tione." R. T. K. Te Kopara 74 (1920): 11-12.
  • "Hui ki Rotorua." R. T. K. Te Kopara 77 (1920): 5-6.
  • "He Whakaroaro No Rotorua." R. T. K. Te Kopara 78 (1920): 6-7.
  • "Te Tino Māori O Enei Ra." R. T. K. Te Kopara 79 (1920): 4-6.
  • "Te Rongoa Mo Te Ao." R. T. K. Te Kopara 80 (1920): 1-4.
  • "Kei Hea Hawaiiki." R. T. K. Te Kopara 81 (1920): 1-5.
  • "He Tika Ranei Nga Mahi Māori." R. T. K. Te Kopara 82 (1920): 1-5.
  • "Te Reo Māori." Na R. T. K. (He mea tango mai énei kōrero i Te Kōpara, Nama 89 o Hurae, 1921). Rpt. in Te Paanui 2 a Wikitoria. Eds. W. Parker and J. Malcolm. Wellington, N.Z.: [Victoria University], 1979. 5-7.
  • "He Kupu Tohunga." R. T. K. Te Toa Takitini 44 (1925): 192-195.
  • "Te Kai-Whakaako Pae-Ra-Uta." R. T. K. Te Toa Takitini 48 (1925): 261-263.
  • Provides text of "Te Kai-Whakaako Pae-Ra-Uta" in Māori with explanatory notes and an English translation.
  • "Tiriti O Waitangi. He Titiro Whakamuri." R. T. K. Te Toa Takitini 49 (1925): 276-279.
  • "Kua Warewaretia." R. T. K. Te Toa Takitini 49 (1925): 283-284.
  • The Story of a Māori Chief: Mokena Kohere And His Forebears. Wellington, N.Z.: Reed, 1949.
  • He Konae Aronui: Māori Proverbs and Sayings. Trans. Reweti T. Kohere. Wellington, N.Z.: A. H. & A. W. Reed, 1951.
  • A collection of Māori proverbs and tribal sayings which includes English translations and explanatory notes. In his preface, Kohere writes that his aim in this publication is ‘not so much to produce an exhaustive record and study of Māori proverbs and sayings, as to produce a booklet which will be used in all Māori schools and colleges.’ Kohere freely acknowledges the large proportion of East Coast proverbs in the collection.
  • The Autobiography of a Māori. Wellington, N.Z.: Reed, [1951]
  • "He Ngahau Tino Pai." Te Ao Hou 3 (1952/53): 55.
  • "Te Reo Māori: O Tatou Ingoa Māori." Te Ao Hou 6 (1953): 44-45.
  • "Te Rererangi." Te Pipiwharauroa, He Kupu Whakamarama 1900. Rpt. in Te Ao Hou 16 (1956): 48.
  • The Te Ao Hou notes state that this article ‘shows the Māori reaction to balloons, then a new invention.’
  • Other

  • "Tribute From Māori Author" In "Our Readers’ Say.’ Te Ao Hou 2 (1952): 48.
  • Kohere writes a commendation of the first edition of Te Ao Hou noting that ‘reading matter is one of the great needs of the Māori people’. He says he is sure that Te Ao Hou "will help to fill up the void in Māori life."
  • Nga Kōrero a Reweti Kohere Mā. Ed. Te Ohorere raua ko Wiremu Kaa. Wellington, N.Z.: Victoria UP, 1995.
  • Rarawa Kohere writes that this is a compilation by Reweti Kohere of the best of his own work and other contributions to Māori newspapers.
  • Poetry

  • "He Reo Tino Pai." Te Ao Hou 2 (1952): 44-45.
  • Kohere’s first contribution to Te Ao Hou is predominantly written in Māori and includes a waiata by Harata Tangikuku accompanied by explanatory notes. Kohere provides his own English translation of the waiata with brief notes of explanation.
  • "Nga Titotito A Te Māori: He Waiata Mo Te Rangātira/ Māori Poetry: Lament For A Dead Chief." Te Ao Hou 4 (1953): 41.
  • In his notes for this waiata Kohere writes that this lament was clearly written for a great chief because of the reference to the taniwha. Written in Māori with an English translation.
  • "He Titotito na te Māori te Waiata a te Rangipaia." Te Ao Hou 5 (1953): 55.
  • Kohere discusses a waiata by Ngāti Porou rangātira Te Rangipaia and provides an English translation of the waiata.
  • "Nga Titotito a te Māori: Waiata a Hinewahirangi/ Māori Poetry: Hinewahirangi’s Song." Te Ao Hou 6 (1953): 43-44.
  • Hinewahirangi, the widow of Tikitikiorangi, wrote this song when her son, Wikiriwhi Matauru was taken away from her to the East Cape. Kohere writes: ‘She could not see her son at East Cape, for she was not wanted there, so she implored a southerly breeze to carry her to East Cape... on East Island, where she could gaze across to where her little boy lived.’ Written in Māori with English translation by Kohere.
  • "Nga Titotito a te Māori: Te Oriori a Hinekitawhiti mo tana Mokopuna mo Ahuahukiterangi/ Māori Poetry: Hine-ki-tawhiti’s Oriori." Te Ao Hou 7 (1954): 60-61.
  • Kohere writes in Māori with English translation. He states that this is a lullaby sung by a grandmother to her grand-daughter ‘bidding her [to] call on her relatives from Tokomaru to Raukokore in the Bay of Plenty... the singer in a flight of poesy, exalts her little grand-daughter to the highest’.
  • "Nga Titotito a te Māori: Te Waiata a Turuhira Hineiwhakina./ Māori Poetry: Turuhira Hineiwhakina’s Song." Te Ao Hou 8 (1954): 23-24.
  • Kohere’s great interest in this waiata lies in the fact that it supports the Ngāti Porou belief that Ngāti Porou chief Kakatarau ‘organised and led the Toka-a-kuku expedition’. This was the last conflict between Ngāti Porou and Whanau-a-Apanui in 1836. Kohere writes in Māori with English translation and provides notes for this waiata.
  • "Nga Titotito a te Māori: He Waiata A Hinetawhirirangi/ Māori Poetry: Hinetawhirirangi’s Song." Te Ao Hou 9 (1954): 6-7.
  • Kohere writes that this waiata was a lament for the death of Ngāti Porou Chief Hamaiwaho who drowned when escaping from imprisonment by the Ngapuhi. Kohere writes in Māori with English translation and provides notes for this waiata.

    Other

  • Kohere, Rarawa. "Kohere, Reweti Tuhorouta 1871-1954." The Dictionary of the New Zealand Biography. Vol. 3. 1901-1920. Auckland; Wellington, N.Z.: Auckland UP; Dept. of Internal Affairs, 1996. 266-268.
  • A. M. I. "Reweti Tuhurouta Kohere." Journal of the Polynesian Society 63 (1954): 258-259.
  • Poihipi, T. T. Te Ao Hou 9 (1954): 3.
  • Benton, Richard A. Materials for Teaching and Learning the Māori Language: A Bibliography of Published Materials for Teaching Māori to Speakers of Other Languages Compiled and Annotated by Richard A. Benton. Wellington, N.Z.: New Zealand Council for Educational Research, Māori Unit, 1979. 21.
  • Taylor, C. R. H. A Bibliography of Publications on the New Zealand Māori and the Moriori of the Chatham Islands. Oxford: Clarendon, Oxford UP, 1972. 67, 83, 92, 96.
  • Williams, John A. Politics of the New Zealand Māori: Protest and Cooperation, 1891-1909. [Auckland, N.Z.]: Auckland UP, 1969. 187.
  • Reviews

    He Konae Aronui and The Autobiography of a Māori
  • "Books that Will Interest You." Te Ao Hou 1 (1952): 54.