Takarangi Rangitaamo Tiahuia 1948 1992 Waikato Nz

edmondsallan - Hello - In 1948 Rangitaamo was sent to the Women’s Health League conference to promote the idea among Te Arawa and Ngati Tuwharetoa of a Maori welfare league, able to deal directly with the different government departments responsible for housing, health, education and employment. Rangitaamo presented these ideas to her Ngati Tuwharetoa kin in Maori, hoping to break their allegiance to the Rotorua Committee. In 1951 she travelled her district, discreetly persuading the Women’s Health League branches to convert to branches of the newly formed Maori Women’s Welfare League. Just before the MWWL’s first dominion conference, Rangitaamo hosted a crucial meeting at Putiki in 1951 which helped to turn the tide towards it. After the league was established, Rangitaamo was ultimately responsible for its administration in her zone. Throughout the early 1950s she forwarded to the Department of Maori Affairs applications to form new branches. This meant attending and assisting at most of their meetings. She also attended all dominion conferences; with Ruth Wright and Ema Otene her special responsibility was to take care of official visitors.

Rangitaamo continued in her work as a welfare officer, attending meetings of the MWWL and Putiki’s many other community organisations for 14 years, dealing with the sick, promoting healthy child-rearing practices among mothers, caring for the homeless and disadvantaged, finding work for the unemployed, and promoting spiritual welfare through her teaching of all aspects of Maori culture. She retired officially in 1962; Tenga-i-te-rangi died the same year. Rangitaamo coped with the massive tangihanga, and later with a ceremony at Putiki to mark the unveiling of his memorial stone.

Neither her husband’s death nor her own retirement lessened Rangitaamo’s activity. In August 1964 she was one of a group of four Maori women who flew to Tonga to attend the 10th annual conference of the Pan-Pacific and South-East Asia Women’s Association, which was built around the theme of the role of women in preserving cultural heritage. With Te Arahori Potaka, also of Whanganui, Rangitaamo helped to lead the New Zealand delegation in waiata, poi dances and haka during the associated concert. For Rangitaamo, the highlight of the conference was meeting Queen Salote; they became firm friends.

Rangitaamo continued her tutoring of Maori language, arts and crafts and her role as elder at Putiki. In 1982 she was asked to instruct Prince Edward, then a house tutor at Wanganui Collegiate School, in Maori custom. She received the Wanganui Community Award in 1984. That year Sir Kingi Ihaka of the Council for Maori and South Pacific Arts presented her with an award of $700 for her work in promoting Maori arts and culture, and for her compositions of waiata. She was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal in 1986 for community service. Rangitaamo Takarangi died at Wanganui Hospital, aged 90, on 5 June 1992. She was survived by a daughter and numerous descendants. After a tangihanga on Putiki marae, she was buried at Putiki cemetery. Well , I'am very pleased on " old faithful's " selection . " Tiahuia " was certainly a very active woman Till we meet again - Regards - edmondsallan