I found this newspaper clipping in a journal that belong to our Mother, Dorothy. It's about her mother's father, Hohepa Heperi. I re-typed the information from the article so you could read it more easily.A pioneer era of the Church in New Zealand was regretfully closed with the death of Hohepa Heperi, 94, last of the first seven High Priests to be ordained in New Zealand.
A bulletin carried in the Church News telling of his death, March 2, is followed by this outline of his outstanding accomplishments in Church Work. (I tried to pull up LDS Church News Archives but they only go back to 1988 and the death year is about 1956)
Elder Heperi's parents were of Irish, English, and Maori descent. His Father's name was Heperi Phillip but, loyal to his Maori blood, he dropped the surname Phillip and was known as Hohepa Heperi.
Two of his Maori Ancestors, Tamati Wake Tene, and Eru Patuone Tene , brothers, were associated with the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
When only 17 years of age, Elder Heperi married Raupia Hohaia Patuone in 1887. They were both converted and baptized two years later (1889).
From then on, they made it a point to see that their 11 children, one an adopted daughter (Isabella Heperi), were active. This spirit continued to the third generation- a total of 220 descendants. (additional family descendants can be seen below)
Elder Heperi, a giant of a man standing six feet three inches and weighing "17 stones" or 266 pounds, took his wife to the Hawaiian Temple in 1920. She died the following year (1921) and in 1922 he married his second wife, Ellen Ngakura.
Despite his lack of formal education, he had an excellent command of the English language and a complete knowledge of the Gospel through avid reading. His grandmother chose him, when a child, to learn all about the traditions and beliefs of the Maori people. She taught him about the maori genealogy and the great migration. He could recite for hours the genealogy of his forefathers, tracing them back to Jerusalem. He was a scholar to the Maori migration from Hawaii to New Zealand. Much of his later years was spent lecturing on this subject.
When Elder Heperi was married, he spent 22 years in the bush, felling trees and logging them for the government. He then purchased a 500-acre farm in North Auckland where he lived most of his life. The farm was a home for members and missionaries for 50 years.
His Church service includes 25 years as branch president of the Bay of Islands Branch, 20 years as president of the Bay of Islands District with its 16 branches, and five years as a special missionary proselyting among the Maori people all over North Island.
During his travels as a missionary, he would leave his farm in charge of his children and travel for months about North Island. He was 83 years old at the end of this mission.
His life was devoted to encouraging his people to raise their living standards, abolish Maori customs and traditions which were barriers to their progress and not in accordance with the principles of the Church.
Our Descendants that can be added to the list of 220+ descendants from Hohepa Heperi Family Line...
Our Great Grand Parents on Our Mother's Maternal Side:
- Hohepa Heperi + Raupia Patuone
Our Grand Parents on Our Mother's Maternal Side:
- Murdoch McKenzie + Isabella (Nehua-Bryers/McLean/Heperi) McKenzie
Our Parents:
- Gene Williams Buss + Dorothy Mary Repia (McKenzie) Buss
(Us) The Children:
- Timothy Buss + Janice (Prestwich) Buss
- Kimberly (Buss) Walus + Mark Walus
- Leah (Buss) Simmons + Edward Simmons
- Robbie Buss + Edith (Acord) Buss
Our Children (Oldest to Youngest):
- Natalie (Walus) Whipple + Nicholas Whipple
- Mark C. Walus + Liahona (Hamblin) Walus
- Kiri (Simmons) Noe + Texus Noe
- Ashleigh (Simmons) Pollard + Brandon Pollard
- Ariel (Walus) Schwencke + Steppenwolf (aka Chip) Schwencke
- Shelby Simmons
- Jason Buss
- Andrew Simmons
- Courtney Buss
- Gracie Simmons
- Joshua Buss
- McKenna Walus
- Emma Simmons
- Adam Buss
- William Simmons
- Christian Buss
- Benjamin Whipple
- Kora Whipple
- Gilbert Whipple
- Christian Walus
- Mila Walus
- Arthur Whipple
- Simon Whipple
Spouses and Posterity Updated November 15, 2020
3 comments:
Kia ora taku whanaunga!
I had the original clipping up until 3 years ago when shifting house I lost it, thankyou for posting it online, it makes it easier as I realise I have to leave my daughter Jaime Aroha Dick (33) something of her heritage, I can at least point her in the right direction.
Elder (LDS) Dallin James Nitama Heperi
Tena Koe cousin
Isabella is descended from the sister of my 4th great grandfather. Thank you for this information - very valuable.
Naku na
Riki Robinson, Palmerston North, New Zealand
June 6th, 2017
Kia ora koutou,
My name is Shirley and my father's name is Takiwa Rapana originally he was named Joseph Heperi Rapana and after 4 months my grandfather changed his name to Takiwa. The had another son and named him Joseph Heperi. I am trying to track my Grandfathers whakapapa to the Hokianga. He was born in the north. I heard a story that Joseph Heperi was his whangai Koroua who looked after him in his young life. He mustve been of great importance to our Koro because he named 2 of his sons Joseph Heperi. I am desperately looking for my Grandfathers name or origins where she lays or where she is from. I have littel information about her. My grandfathers name is Tiaki Rapana later known as Jack Robin and his mother is possibly Miriama? RIma? Miri? Mere? No one knows in my whakapapa. ANy help to find out more about her and her whanau wold be greatly appreciated by us. Aku mihi maioha. SHirley
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