Rankin Hone Heke 1929 1946

edmondsallan - Hello - I think I filed this name originally , because of his famous christian names . I see a note on the file ( reference )>>> I missed some research on this person . <<< Thats strange !! Excuse -- while I have a quick look. >>> Look at Kaikohe as well <<< .Done that - Goody goody. Lets go -- the way is clear, even if his life's story is long. .Eventually Rankin returned to Northland, where he worked as foreman of a mercury mine at Ngawha, sometime between 1928 and 1934. Later he purchased land at Punakitere where he was to farm for 30 or more years. On ll March 1924 at Kaikohe he had married Hinuoriwa Te Pirihi Whiu of Ngati Rangi, daughter of Maraea and Te Pirihi Whiu. There were three children of this marriage, but later the couple separated, Hinu returning to her people. About 1927 he met Parani Maihi of Ngati Hau of Hokianga, and took her as a second wife in a customary marriage. She was of very high rank, a schoolteacher by profession, and well known for her oratorical skills. There were seven children of this union.
By the 1930s Hone Heke Rankin was taking his place as a leader of his district, working on all the local projects, and often Parani was left to carry on the farm work assisted only by her older children. In 1936 Rankin was gazetted as a member of the Pewhairangi Maori Council, a post he was to retain until at least 1945. In 1937 he received a coronation commemorative medal. He was also one of a number of Northland chiefs invited by Eru Pou to take part in a hui to discuss plans for the 1940 centennial celebrations. In 1939 he was on a list of Maori notables invited to take part in the planned joint Pakeha and Maori pageant. At the re-enactment of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi he played the role of his ancestor Hone Heke Pokai.
During the Second World War Rankin farmed his land. He was probably involved in the Maori War Effort Organisation, but assumed a more important role when he was appointed to the Rehabilitation Board in late 1944, possibly through his friendship with Prime Minister Peter Fraser. The board was responsible for the resettlement of returned servicemen, Pakeha and Maori, through trade and farm training, assistance with employment, housing loans and loans for farm settlement. In April 1945 the board appointed a finance committee, with Rankin as a member, to take special responsibility for Maori returned servicemen. It was to pursue an active policy of purchasing or leasing land from undeveloped tribal estates on which to settle them.In August 1945 Rankin and others toured Maori localities inspecting progress; they clarified and standardised a number of administrative procedures. But in January 1946, when Rankin toured Northland with other members of the board, they reported many deficiencies: lack of information, bureaucratic delays and the scarcity of available tribal land meant that little had been done to settle qualified Maori farmers on land. Rankin and the others feared they would drift to urban work, wasting their training, if nothing was done. He was responsible for the frankness of the complaints the board received, as he had insisted they travel without the local Maori rehabilitation officer in order to allow 'a freer expression of opinion'. In March 1946 he was part of a similar delegation to the East Coast.Rankin also contributed positively to rehabilitation in his local area. He played a crucial role in getting the Kaikohe Carpentry Training Centre established by March 1945, A very busy
" cussie " He certainly into the " Bureaucratic Nonsense " great . Their still far to much of it . Till we meet again - Regards - edmondsallan