Kaaro Ani 1851 1922 Nga Puhi Hokianga
edmondsallan - Hello - Not a lot of imformation on this person . She was a " Maori Prophet " of some standing in the northland. I found trying to research " Kaaro, Ani- Nga Puhi leader, prophet " very difficult .Nearly all her records seem to have vanished . very unusual . Even the snail -- leaves a trail !!!
Ani Kaaro was the senior leader of Ngati Hao, a small, declining hapu of Nga Puhi from Rangiahua and Waihou in the upper Hokianga district. Her authority derived from her grandfather, Eruera Patuone, pre-eminent leader of the tribe in the early days of contact with Europeans. She was the daughter of his only surviving son, Hohaia, and his wife, Harata. The date and place of her birth are not known.
Ani Kaaro emerged as the tribal leader at a time of intense difficulty in Hokianga. While the district was being opened by government policy to European settlement, the Hokianga tribes were simultaneously becoming involved with major movements for Maori unity and political autonomy. Ani was prepared to work through the King movement. In 1885 she persuaded Ngati Hao to enter into a compact with Tawhiao, the Maori King, when he visited Waitangi in an attempt to establish a broad Maori unity. But Ngati Hao and Te Popoto were the only two Hokianga tribes who were prepared to enter into union with the King movement. Ani Kaaro's leadership and support for Tawhiao's aims led her to be challenged by two rival women, who also claimed direct divine guidance. They were sisters, Maria Pangari and Remana Hane (Rimana Hi), daughters of Aporo Pangari (Te Houhou) and grand-daughters of Pangari, Ngati Hao leader from Orira on the northern side of the Waihou River.
Ani Kaaro had already been recognised as a prophet when she made a pilgrimage in May 1885 to Parihaka. Together with her father and her brother, Patu Hohaia, she became a convert to the faith of the visionary Te Whiti-o-Rongomai. He was a pacifist, and believed that God would ultimately restore authority to the Maori. Ani Kaaro apparently gained the following of Maria Pangari's supporters after Maria died on the journey to Parihaka. However, in 1886, while Ani was visiting Napier, Remana Hane seized the leadership of the religious movement at Waihou and won over Ani's close kin, including her father, mother, and brother. Remana claimed to be spiritually married to Te Whiti. She and her followers built a community named Mount Zion, and by 1887 they were involved in extensive feuding with Ani and her followers, which culminated in an armed police expedition against Remana Hane.
Ani Kaaro, while maintaining regular monthly religious meetings, stated that she had ceased to identify herself with the 'Hauhau' teachings of Te Whiti, disclaimed the role of prophet, and returned to an acceptance of the 'European' Sunday as the holy day. However, her father retained his belief in Remana Hane.
The rivalry between the chiefly women continued for a few years, but Remana Hane's following dwindled after the failure of her prediction about the coming of the archangel Gabriel in 1889. Thereafter Ani Kaaro became the unchallenged leader of Ngati Hao. During the royal visit to Rotorua in 1901, she was the only woman photographed among several leading chiefs. She appears as a short, thickset woman, aged probably in her 40s.
Ani Kaaro's husband was Ngakete Hapeta, but nothing is known of their marriage and no evidence of children has been found. It is not known when or where she died. Her chiefly leadership derived not just from her descent - she had superseded her father in authority - but also from her abilities. She was a matakite (visionary), but in her search for the 'right path' she always remained within the law, and acted as a responsible leader. This is all I could find , not much . Yet her blood lines are so well known - Till we meet again - Regards - edmondsallan
this is what ive found on Ani Kaaro, a younger sister of the administrator’s grandmother Hoana, was to live out her final days in a small house, set apart at Whakapara. Ani Kaaro and her husband Ngakete Hapeta had no issue. Many years ago, the administrator was told that, amongst other spiritual responsibilities, Ani Kaaro was guardian of a large slab of pounamu, effectively the major family taonga of a material nature. This pounamu was kept under Ani Kaaro’s bed and upon her death in 1923, removed at night by pack horse to a secret location under a giant Puriri tree at Whakapara. In 1962, in the middle of a field in the general location of the hidden block, the administrator tripped over a piece of pounamu which had been broken from the large block by forces unknown and laid mysteriously upon the fresh grass. KaumÄtua in the family interpreted this as a tohu, a sign that special recognition and responsibilities had been accorded to the administrator by tÅ«puna. Subsequently the piece of pounamu vanished mysteriously once more, probably to return to its parent, its Matua Pounamu. Because of the highly tapu nature of this pounamu, it is thought that it is best left undisturbed. The name of the pounamu is itself a dire warning and will not be printed. (back)
19. During all the time the administrator spent with Okeroa and other kaumÄtua, Ani Kaaro was never discussed in detail: her name was mentioned only in connection with tÄtai. Another explanation which the administrator also believes to be true is that Ani Kaaro was seen by some in the family to be a personification or reincarnation of Ripia’s stillborn child Te Tuhi and it was her job to put this troublesome presence within the Ripia and Tapua family, finally to rest by setting it up as a benign spiritual kaitiaki for all of Patuone’s descendants. In MÄori terms also within these matters of spirituality, time and reason combine in fluidity: when the time is ‘right’ a pre-determined event will occur. Although during the administrator's childhood, there was friendly contact between the descendants of Hoana and Te Tawaka (and also, remembering the fact that there were various tomo between between them), there was much left unsaid. One of the forces operating within the family arose from Te Tawaka's husband, , who had an infamous reputation for many reasons which are best left unspoken.
I wonder if she is the daughter of ellen davis who married john Samuel Edmonds'
other names ive connected her to are - Anna Marie Te Riutoto, Ani Patene, Ani Hokopu, Merekaimanu Toria Hikuroa, Ann Davis.