Hemanawa (Mana) Pihama née Matenga

Hemanawa Pihama was born in Taumarunui and was educated at Okahukura School, Tahora School, Taumarunui Primary School, Taumarunui High School and Turakina Māori Girls’ College. She worked as a toll operator from She married David Te Iwi Turoa Pihama in 1950 and had two children. Hemanawa was a restaurant cook in Taumarunui from 1976-78 and worked on the family farm at Taringamotu Valley from 1979-84 after the death of her husband in 1978. She was an Honorary Field Worker at Waikune Prison from 1985-86 and became Caretaker and Administrator for the Inmates Visitor Home in National Park. Hemanawa also worked at Rangipo and Hautu Prisons. Since February 1987, she has been a voluntary worker and visitor for the Prison Institution of Turangi-Taupo; she continues to do this work at Turangi and Ohura. She has been a member of Nga Hapu Awhina Incorporated Turangi since 1987; she arranged their access into the prisons where they run weekly Bible classes, church services and assist in work parole, home leave and visits. She was a member of the Turangi District Whanau from 1987-89 and part of the Tongariro Community Organisation Grants Scheme from In the early 1990s she worked in the Auckland City Mission. She was a Matron at the Emergency Home in Turangi from 1994 and now lives in her home town of Taumarunui. Hemanawa was a member of the Turangi Māori Women’s Welfare League from 1963-1998 and was made a Life Member. She has been a trustee of Te Koura Marae since 1950. She has published one non-fiction article but has written many other poems and stories which are unpublished.

Biographical sources

• Correspondence and phone conversation with Mana Pihama 9 Feb and 19 May, 1998.
• Pihama, Hemanawa. "A Trip TO Wonderland." Tu Tangata 28 (1986): 26-27.