Dr Hiko Hohepa: A Man of Learning and Humility
Hiko-o-te-rangi Hohepa: He pouako, he ngākau māhaki
Ngāti Uenukukōpako, Ngāti Te Roro-o-te-Rangi
Te Hiko-o-te-Rangi Hohepa was a highly respected Te Arawa kaumātua (elder). He was well known for being extremely knowledgeable about genealogy and the practices and histories of marae. Perhaps even more importantly, he was known for his gentle peace-making nature and for being very humble.
He inspired and supported many people in their quest to learn about Māori history. Former student Lynn Gillespie remembers him being “a wonderful Te Arawa historian and storyteller extraordinaire”.
As a kaumātua for Waiariki Institute of Technology, Dr Hohepa worked with the Chief Executive at the time, Arapeta Tahana, to plan and have built the Tangatarua Marae on the Institute’s Mokoia campus.
Dr Hohepa was involved in presenting claims to the Waitangi Tribunal on behalf of several hapū (subtribes). As an accomplished cultural advisor and scholar, he was often called upon to give his knowledge on matters of protocol, some of which were quite controversial.
On one occasion, three women asked for the right to speak at an important meeting at Tamatekapua, Te Papaiouru Marae, on behalf of their iwi (tribe). Although women do not usually take a speaking role, Dr Hohepa believed that a term called ‘Te Haukokori’ once existed, which described a long-forgotten practice of Te Arawa women speaking on the marae. Before the meeting, Dr Hohepa went to different leaders asking that the women be allowed to speak. Although some people protested the decision on the day, the women did go on to speak there.
Even though everyone may not have agreed with him, Dr Hohepa’s dedication to learning and service to others meant that his point of view was always respected.
This story comes from the original Great Te Arawa Stories website created by Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru (NPeW) Education Trust in 2018. To ensure consistency, minimal updates were made to the text before it was transferred to this new site.
