Omana Tiaki 1891 1945 Ngati Kaungunu Mahia Nz

edmondsallan - Hello - Its a nice drive from Gisborne thro to
" Mahia Peninsula ". When my family were younger we used to go and stay down their often .In those days I was trying to pay off everything , worked 24 / 7 ( ??? ) and at times just had to stop and catch my breath . Wonderful fishing there . and in those days the
" Cray fish " were big & plentyful On the ocean side of the peninsular over the hill is the school & marae . Down by the beach is a huge family home . It was while fishing with the family I met John Ormond several times . Many years later he assisted me in my ancestral research work .
Omana, Tiaki
Ngati Kahungunu; rugby player, farmer, politician

John (Jack) Ormond was born at Mahia on 18 December 1891; he was commonly known as Tiaki Omana. Tiaki was the fourth child of George Canning Ormond, a sheepfarmer, and his wife, Maraea Kiwiwharekete of Ngati Kahungunu. The family hapu was Ngati Rongomaiwahine. His grandfather was John Davies Ormond, the politician and superintendent of Hawke’s Bay.

As there was no school in Mahia, Tiaki began his education at home under the supervision of a governess. While still of primary school age, he was sent to Wallingford, the large country estate near

Porangahau acquired by his grandfather in 1857. Here classes for the local children were held in the chapel. Tiaki attended a private preparatory school until he was 14. He was then sent to Christ’s College in Christchurch, where he quickly learned how to be frugal and save all his pocket money so that he could make the long journey home for the school holidays.

In 1908 Omana made the Christ’s College First XV, but his promising early showing as a schoolboy rugby player was cut short by illness in 1909. He was sent home and confined to bed for six months. When his health returned, he went straight back to the football paddock and by 1910 was turning out regularly for Mahia in the junior competition. In 1911 Omana was playing senior grade rugby and earning a reputation as a fast and reliable winger.

In June 1917 Omana was conscripted into the New Zealand army. He joined the New Zealand Maori (Pioneer) Battalion and on 8 February 1918, as a lieutenant, sailed to join the fighting in France. Even while on active service Omana still managed to play rugby. He was selected for the Pioneer Battalion team and played with distinction on the wing. In 1919, when the battalion returned to New Zealand, he was included in the squad which represented the soldiers in a very successful series of home-coming games. The team played a nine-match provincial tour during which Omana established himself as a highly mobile flanker.

In the next two seasons Omana played club rugby for Tapuae and Mahia, and from 1923 he represented Hawke’s Bay. He played in 10 defences of the Ranfurly Shield. Omana earned one outing as an All Black: in 1923 he played against a touring New South Wales team. In 1924 he led the Wairoa representative side and played for Northern Maoris in the Te Mori Rose Bowl. He retired from representative rugby in 1925 but maintained an active interest in the sport as an administrator.

Omana was a successful sheepfarmer and runholder. As there was no road access to his property, Kini Kini, all the stores and farm supplies had to be transported from Mahia Beach by boat. Tiaki would think nothing of rowing his little clinker for over two hours in open sea with piles of purchases stacked to the gunwales. He sponsored the annual farm tennis tournament in which he usually played a match or two himself. He generously provided prizes for the tournament winners.

In the 1930s Omana became involved in the Ratana movement. The only electorate which still eluded it was Eastern Maori, and after a visit by T. W. Ratana to Kini Kini, Omana was persuaded to stand as a candidate. He unsuccessfully contested the seat in 1935 and 1938. Following the healing of the local split between Ratana and Labour Party followers, Omana stood as the Labour candidate for Eastern Maori in 1943. He won the seat, defeating Apirana Ngata, who had been the incumbent since 1905.

In a speech on 13 July 1945, Omana raised issues closely identified with the Ratana movement. On behalf of his elders, he began by asking that ample time be set aside for the consideration of land claims. Previous commissions had worked to quite limited time-frames where not all the evidence was able to be heard. Omana suggested that no acceptable settlement could be reached unless full and proper investigations had taken place. Till we meet again - Regards - edmondsallan