Unorthodox minister brought success to iwi

The deeds of the late Napi Waaka around the motu are being recounted at his tangi, which is happening now at Te Takinga Marae, Mourea, on the isthmus between lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti.

Sir Toby Curtis from Ngati Pikiao says he showed his talent for organisation early in the Ohau Youth Club encouraging hapu to set up their own culture groups.

Much of his working life was as a Methodist minister and a teacher in South Taranaki and Tainui, where he developed a close friendship with his relative Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu.

"He had a mind, an ability to do things in ways that were quite unorthodox but very successful, so Tainui has been the recipient of his utmost skills, his abilty to organise and they also saw the fruits of scuccess in so many activities," Sir Toby says.

He says Napi Waaka lived his life as a person of god.

King Tuheitia and a large group from Waikato Tainui are expected at Te Takinga this afternoon.

TAA TOBY CURTIS INTERVIEW

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