David Borell was the seventh of fourteen children born to Werahiko Borell and Terina Faulkner at Te Puna. His grandfather, Emile Borell, was the first Borell settler to arrive in New Zealand from France and he married Roha Tangike from Tainui. In his boyhood Borell lived by the Oikimoke Pa with his grandparents Heeni and Hohepa Pakana/Faulkner and was educated at the primary school in Te Puna and Sacred Heart College in Auckland. After leaving school Borell worked in the building trade with his father Werahiko continuing a family tradition in the building industry. Emile Borell was a Cooper and Werahiko Borell built the Catholic Church in Te Puna. In 1921 Borell married Rangi Murray and they farmed at Te Puna. In 1921 he played rugby for the Bay of Plenty against Hawkes Bay for the Ranfurly Shield; he scored the final try under the post, the halfback’s conversion failed, and thus they missed by one point in bringing the shield home. Borell played for the Bay of Plenty against the 1921 Springboks and scored all the points and was selected for the 1922 All Blacks to tour England but declined because they were expecting their first child. Throughout his life he continued to have a great interest in racing and rugby. Borell was a Vice-President of the Tauranga Historical Society, wrote a number of articles for its journal and led field trips for the Society. He was a rangātira of the Pirirakau hapu of Ngāti Ranginui and had considerable local knowledge. Borell was a J.P.
Biographical sources
- Phone conversation with William and Tina Borell, 15 and 23 June 1998.
- Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 41 (1970): 38.
- Kuka, Charlie. "Obituary - David Borell." Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 57 (1976).
Non-fiction
- "Historical Tour of Tauranga’s Inner Harbour." Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 27 (1965): 19-22.
- A detailed account of historical landmarks witnessed during a launch trip from the Strand in Tauranga, up the Western Channel to Omokoroa, and then bus travel to Whakamarama, 15 miles North West of Tauranga.
- "Visit to Motuhoa." Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 28 (1966): 26-28.
- Borell gives an account of the visit by members of the Tauranga Historical Society to Motuhoa Island in January 1966. He provides a brief description of the island and recounts reminiscences of Maata Kerekau who once lived on one of the island’s pa. It was this pa that Te Waharoa frequented during his travels around the Bay of Plenty; he was nursed there shortly before being taken to the Waikato where he died in 1836.
- "Race Meetings at Matakana Island - New Year’s Day, 1919, 1920 and 1921." Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 30 (1967): 21-25.
- Borell writes a colourful account of the history of the first three race meetings held at Matakana Island from 1919-1921. He closes with a short poem in Māori and English in which the speaker recalls former times when looking on the landscape.
- "Historic Te Puna." Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 21 (1964): 8-15. An extract is rpt. in Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 40 (1970): 7.
- Borell provides a descriptive account of the Te Puna district noting its tribal origins, numerous pa sites, famous ancestors and personalities, and local traditions.
- "The Story of Te Puna." Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 47 (1973) Supplement: 1-12.
- These are extracts drawn from Borell’s article in the Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 21 (1964). Borell writes of the many pa sites around Te Puna, discusses the genealogical descent of the Te Puna Māori and then recounts various legends and stories of Te Puna. Borell writes of the Te Puna Catholic Parish and the construction of its first church in Te Puna, and describes early schooling, postal services, transport, timber milling, mineral resources and notable families of the district.
Other
- "The Passing of Te Hare Piahana - Chief of the Ngāti- Ranginui." Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 41 (1970): 39.
- After the death of Ngāti Ranginui chief Te Hare Piahana (1886-1970), Borell wrote this tribute and biographical account of Piahana, whom he describes as "a top level authority on the traditions, legends, lore and history of his Māori people; [and] one of the last remaining repositories of the treasures, karakias and rituals of an age that is passing."
- "Place Names of Our Western Skyline." Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 48 (1973): 7-8.
- Borell responds to a concern of Mr D. S. Mitchell, Mayor of Tauranga in 1966, regarding "the failure of many people to use the correct nomenclature for local place names." Borell notes with sadness that along with the gradual passing of Māori elders, many of the Māori place-names are falling out of circulation and being replaced by either part of a Māori name or renamed after the Pākehā settler who supposedly "first discovered" a specific landmark.
Poetry
- "Titiro Kau Ana Nga Kanohi." [first line] In ‘Race Meetings at Matakana Island - New Year’s Day, 1919, 1920 and 1921.’ Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 30 (1967): 21-25.
- This poem concludes an article by Borell on the first three race meetings held at Matakana Island from 1919-1921. When he returned to the Island in 1966 he wrote this short poem in Māori and English recalling the former events witnessed by the poet on the Island.
Other
- Kuka, Charlie. "Obituary - David Borell." Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society 57 (1976).