March 19, 2022
Hetet whānau celebrates second centenarian
Media release: Tiwini (Steve) Poharama Hetet (Ngāti Kinohaku, Ngāti Rora, Ngāti Maniapoto) has been a regular at a Papamoa gym for the last decade and has for most of that, joked about his life membership.
An avid gardener, sports enthusiast, and crossword expert, it’s evident Steve’s disciplined lifestyle, and lifespan for that matter, facilitates his happy disposition, great health and philosophical outlook on life, all confirmed by clocking up 100 years around the sun.
Born at his whānau Oparure homestead, just out of Te Kuiti on 19th March 1922, Steve is the youngest of five children to Tuheka Taonui and Rangimarie Hetet.
Having returned from serving in World War 1, Steve’s father Tuheka settled into raising his family in Te Kuiti, keeping busy as a skilled builder, talented musician and keen rugby player.
Sadly, when Steve was 16, his father Tuheka died suddenly aged 49, leaving his young widow to raise their family. Despite being a single parent, Rangimarie went on to support her family and achieve many great things, including an honorary doctorate from Waikato University for her services to traditional Māori arts. In 1992, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. And remarkably, she too celebrated being a centenarian, living until she passed in 1995 aged 103.
Steve was two years old when the family moved away from the King Country to Ratana Pa where his father Tuheka, was asked to take up the position of head foreman for the building of the Ratana temple.
After four years in Ratana, the family returned to Oparure where Steve started school as a 6-year-old. After nine years, Steve left for St Stephens Māori Boys College before enlisting in the armed services in 1939. Firstly, following the steps of his older brother Bill, into the Army, then switching to the Navy. It was here, during a break that Steve would meet Nita through a fellow navy officer. But the situation was not without the potential marriage being subject to a tono – a formal request of marriage in Māori culture requiring the mutual agreement of the parents.
After Navy life, Steve and Nita married in 1948. He tried his hand at farming, before an opportunity arose which would see him begin work in Lands and Survey and progress to working 40 years as a public servant.
Steve and Nita raised a family of five, living for long periods in Te Kuiti, Whangarei and Rotorua before retiring to Papamoa. Nita passed in 2019, Steve’s daughter Christine lives with him and is supported by the extended whānau.
French and Welsh Connection
Steve is the eldest surviving descendant of Louis Hétet, of French -Welsh heritage who married Rangituatahi, the daughter of the influential Ngāti Maniapoto chief, Taonui Hīkaka around 1840.
The couple had six children: Ellen, Mary (both of whom did not reach adulthood), George Ngātai, John Taonui, Mere Te Wai and Henry Matengaro.
Louis Hetet was born in 1816 at Bishops Castle, Shropshire to Mary Morgan and Joseph Hetet, a French naval officer held captive by the British.
Louis has also been described as the Ngāti Maniapoto Pākeha Māori for which many people in Ngāti Maniapoto are able to trace connections to the union of the Māori princess and the European settler.
Birthday Celebration
Whānau and friends will enjoy Steve’s 100th birthday celebration using the online ZOOM platform.
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