Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Tupai Te Kakati Reihana, known as Jack Reihana and also as Ned, was born on 19 May 1895 at Temuka, the first-born of Te Kakati Reihana (known as Scottie/Scotty) and Irihapeti Ohipere Mohi Te Aika (although Tare was infact his birth mother). Tekakati Reihana was the father of an illegitimate child born in 1895, the parents having lived together as man and wife for some time, according to Native custom. There had been no Christian ceremony. Reihana was charged with having left his child on 26 April 1897 without adequate means of support. He was ordered to pay 4 shillings a week for the child’s maintenance until the child was 14 years of age. In January 1898, an application was made to vary the order. The mother had since died and the child was in the keeping of the maternal grandmother. The grandmother objected, as “the father was not a proper person”. Teka Kati Reihana (known as Scotty) was arrested in October 1899 on a charge of disobeying a maintenance order. Jack’s father, Te Kakati Reihana, died at the Maori Pa on 18 February 1914. “The familiar figure of Reihana will be missed about Temuka, where he had made many friends.” Tupai Reihana was educated at the Arowhenua Native School. The first time any public prize-giving took place was when the school broke up for holidays on 14 December 1900. The school was prettily decorated, and there was a good muster of parents. Little Tupai Reihana received a prize for kindergarten work. At the prize day in mid-December 1903, the Rev. J. M. Adcock, M.A., opened the proceedings by delivering a short and appropriate address to the children. “He heartily congratulated them on the very good report the inspector had made of the school after his last examination, . . . . . . . He also commented favorably on the orderly behaviour of the scholars, and urged them to always be industrious and obedient. It was essential for them all to make the best use of their childhood, as it is the spring-time of life and the most important period. They should be diligent, regular in attendance, and attentive to their lessons, because this was the seed-time of their life and the after-crop depended very greatly on the sort of sowing and cultivation given. It was necessary they should all do their best, and they would find it would make all the difference in their life when they were men and women.” Tupai did his best, being rewarded with a Standard II prize. The children sang three short songs very nicely, and after lollies were given out they were dismissed.

The Musical Carnival and Floral Fete, which had been some months in the planning, took place at Temuka in February 1908. Seven boys from the Native School at Arowhenua danced a haka, their performance being very meritorious. Master Tupai Reihana was one of those boys. Prizes – a nicely bound lot of books - were distributed to the scholars attending the Native Sunday School at Arowhenua in May 1908, Tupai Reihana of the senior class receiving a prize. In November consent was given to Miria Kemara, as trustee for Tupai Reihana, a minor. Miria Kemara was born Te Aika, a sister of Tupai’s other, Irihapeti Ohipere Mohi Te Aika. Miria’s husband, Herewini Kemara (Wini) who was also known as Mr Campbell, died in early April 1922 at the Maori Pa, Temuka.

Tupai was in Australia at the outbreak of war and was accepted for service with the Australian Imperial Force. “His people wanted him to come home and enlist in Temuka, but he said No, it would be losing time, and the sooner he got to the front the sooner he would be killing Germans.” So, he joined the Australian forces and went to the front with the 6th Light Horse. He enlisted as Jack Reihana on 6 September 1915 at Warwick Farms, New South Wales. Born at Temuka, Canterbury, New Zealand, he was 20 years 3 months old, not 22 years as stated, a bricklayer, of Church of England affiliation, and single. He named his aunt as next-of-kin – Myrie Kemara, Wilcon Street, Temuka, New Zealand. Jack was medically examined at Liverpool, New South Wales on 12 October 1915. He was 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed 11 stone 7 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 35-37 inches. His complexion was dark, his eyes brown, and his hair black. He had good vision and hearing; was free of diseases and physical defects; his heart and lungs were healthy; and he had free use of his joints and limbs. healthy. His constitution was not impaired; his intelligence not defective, and he was not subject to fits. He was, thus, fit for Active Service. He had a scar on his right cheek.

Private Jack Reihana embarked with the 3rd Infantry Battalion, 11th Reinforcements of the Australian Imperial Force, leaving from Sydney, Australia on 2 November 1915 per the “Euripides”. On 16 February 1916 at Zeitoun, he joined the 53rd Battalion and was taken on Strength, then on 3 March 1916 he was transferred to the 5th Pioneer Battalion. Embarking at Alexandria on 19 June 1916 to join the British Expeditionary Force, he disembarked at Marseilles on 25 June. On 25 March 1916, Arthur H. Norris, Vicar of Temuka and Winchester, had written to the Officer-in-Charge of Records, Commonwealth Department of Defence, Melbourne, on behalf of Mrs Miria Campbell, of the Maori Pa, Temuka, aunt of Private Tupai Jack Reihana, 3rd Battalion, 11th Reinforcements, Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force. “Mrs Campbell (one of my parishioners) is anxious to have information regarding her nephew, who was virtually brought up by her. The officer-in-charge of Base Records, Wellington, to whom I wrote, referred me to you and expressed the opinion that, in the event of casualty to Reihana, you would be willing to arrange that the information be forwarded to Mrs Campbell through Headquarters Office, Wellington. I shall be grateful if you will inform me that you will be able to forward information to Mrs Campbell.” The Rev. Norris received a prompt reply. No report whatever had been received of Private J. Reihana. “In the circumstances it can but be assumed that he is with his unit.” But next-of-kin was shown on his records as Myra Kemara (Aunt), Wilcox Street, Temuka, N.Z. Any reports that may be received could be notified to that person only. “As Mrs Campbell is also a resident of Temuka, she should be able to obtain all information from the soldier’s next-of-kin. Is it possible that the latter lady is identical with Mrs Campbell?” A communication in June 1916 advised that the address of his next-of-kin – Mrs Miria Kemara – was Wilkin Street, not Wilcox Street.

Reihana was wounded in Action on 20 December 1916, suffering gunshot wounds to both his legs and upper extremities and his left arm, and was admitted to the 34th Casualty Clearing Station in the Field. He was transferred to England per Hospital Ship from the 5th General Hospital on 26 December and was admitted to the 3rd Western General Hospital at Newport, Monmouthshire on 28 December, the news being conveyed to his aunt, Mrs Kemara in a cablegram. She had received two messages to this effect in January 1917. Reihana was granted furlough from 29 January 1917 until 13 February. It was on 13 February 1917 that he went sick (not yet diagnosed) to hospital at Southall from No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham. On 19 February he marched in to No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham from Southall Hospital, then marched out to No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott from No. 4 on 14 March, marching in on 19 March. (Hurdcott Camp was near Fovant in Wiltshire.) For absence without leave from 21 February 1917 till 23 February, he was awarded 3 days Field Punishment and forfeited 6 days’ pay. Before long, Private Reihana was again admitted to hospital – the 1st A.D. (Australian Dermatological) Hospital at Bulford on 4 April 1917 – with VD. On 17 April he was transferred to Parkhouse Military Hospital. (Park House Military Hospital, Harefield, England, was the main building of No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital.) He was discharged from there to Depot on 21 April after a total VD period of 18 days. In mid-May at Parkhouse, he was admonished for absence from Medical Officers Parade.

By May 1917, Mrs Campbell, Maori Pa, Arowhenua, had received word from her nephew, Private Jack Reihana, that he was then in England on three months furlough, and was in Waltham Hospital performing light duties. He was progressing satisfactorily. Mrs Campbell was one and the same as Mrs Miria Kemara, Jack’s aunt and next-of-kin. He marched out from Bulford to No. 1 Command Depot to Perham Downs on 27 June 1917. (Perham Downs near Salisbury was an overseas training ground for the Australian Imperial Force with firing ranges and camps. It was also known as Perishing Downs as marquees that soldiers slept in would be blown away at night by the strong gales.) On 2 November 1917 at Southampton, Private Reihana proceeded overseas from Sutton Veny to France where he rejoined his Unit on 14 November. (At Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, there was a training camp for soldiers going to France, also a convalescent place for Australian soldiers.) He went to hospital, sick, again on 27 March 1918. He was, in fact, admitted to No 2 Field Ambulance with an injury to his right knee. Next, on 2 April 1918, he was discharged (ex sick) to his duty from the Field Ambulance. Private Reihana was wounded in Action for the second time on 18 April 1918. Having been gassed, he was admitted firstly to hospital in France on 20 April, then transferred to the UK and admitted to the Military Hospital at Fovant on 22 April. It was in the newspapers of May 1918, that Reihana , 3418 with the Australian Forces, was again reported wounded. Discharged from Fovant on 15 June 1918, he marched in to Hurdcott. During September and October he moved backwards and forwards between Sutton Veny and Hurdcott. He was again punished, this time for absence from Dental Parade on 14 October 1918 after being duly warned. Private Reihana proceeded overseas again on 21 November 1918 from Southampton and joined his Unit in the Field on 2 December. After marching in at Havre on 27 January 1919, he marched out for England on 31 January, disembarking at Plymouth on 1 February.

It was on 8 April 1919 that Private Jack Reihana returned per the “Trasos M” from England to Australia, disembarking on 25 May. He was discharged on 18 July 1919. There was probably no trace of Jack Reihana in Australia after demobilisation. Where should he be but back at Temuka! He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. On 24 July 1919, two more local men returned to Temuka and were accorded the usual warm public welcome. One was Private Tupai Reihana. The Temuka Municipal Brass Band was at the railway station and played a welcome home as the train steamed in. As soon as the train had left for the south, the returned soldiers were driven to the post office, the Band preceding them, and playing appropriate music. There a large crowd had assembled. The Mayor said that there were probably only a few weeks to go now before all the men would be home. “Temuka had done well in the past, and he was sure they would do well until the end. The boys they were welcoming had been away almost from the start of the war. It was they and their comrades who had kept us in our homes, and what have we had to go through compared with what they have suffered. The boys who went to the war had done their duty nobly. . . . . . . . On behalf of Temuka he thanked them for all they had done, and wished them happiness and success in the future. Cheers were then given for the returned men, after which Privates Whitehead and Reihana expressed their thanks for the hearty welcome home they had received. It was a great pleasure to them to be home once more. . . . . . . . On reaching the Arowhenua Pa, Private Reihana was given a warm Maori welcome. After a short service in the little church he was taken to the hall, when the customary ceremonies were gone through, after which he was entertained at dinner, when the usual toasts were honoured and a very happy time was spent by all.”

On 29 July 1919, a social and presentation were tendered to Private W. H. Taipana (Maori Pioneer Battalion) and Private Tupai Reihana (6th Australian Light Horse) in the Arowhenua Maori Hall. A good floor, excellent music and nice refreshments were provided. Just before supper a halt was made for the presentation by the Mayor of Temuka of gold medals to the guests. Both the lads had done their duty well, he said, and he hoped they would live long to wear them. Amidst applause the medals were pinned on the soldiers’ coats, after which “For They are Jolly Good Fellows” was sung and Mr Torepe’s Company sang a pretty welcome waiata. After supper, dancing was resumed and continued for several hours. Then, on 8 October 1919 at the Drill Hall, Temuka, it was the turn of the Nga-ti-huirapa Committee to give a welcome home social, with presentation of medals, for Private Reihana and two comrades, who had recently returned after serving their country. Again, excellent music was provided. “A special feature was made of the supper, which was set out in the Volunteer Hall, the menu including fruit salad and trifle, and this was thoroughly enjoyed. . . . . . . The floor was in the best of dancing order, and altogether the dancers spent a very pleasant evening.” About half-past 11 o’clock, the presentation ceremony took place. “They were present to thank and honour these men.” Private T. Rickus and J. Reihana were presented with handsome gold medals on behalf of the Nga-ti-huirapa committee, and it was hoped they would live long to wear them. The medals were then pinned on to the soldiers’ coats, after which “For they are jolly good fellows” was sung. Privates Rickus and Reihana expressed their appreciation of the kindness they had received and thanked everyone who had taken part in the welcome. Mr Torepe’s company sang a waiata very pleasingly and cheers were given for the returned soldiers. Dancing was then resumed, and, kept going merrily for several hours.

Not a month later, on 29 November in the Arowhenua Maori Hall, a farewell social and presentation was tendered Trooper Tuhai Reihana (6th Australian Light Horse), who was returning to Australia. The music – instrumental and vocal – was excellent and a splendid supper was provided. Shortly after supper Trooper Reihana was presented with a handsome pocket wallet. Mr W. McCallum, in making the presentation, referred to the sterling qualities of the soldier, and said that the gift was a small token of the esteem and regard in which lie was held by his Maori friends. It was to remind him that their good wishes would always be with him. Private Reihana, in responding, cordially thanked his pakeha and Maori friends for their kindness. Their gift would always remind him that he carried their good wishes. “For he’s a jolly good Fellow” was enthusiastically sung, and Mr Torepe’s company sang a waiata, after which dancing was resumed.

Fortunately, Tupai Reihana returned to his homeland. T. Reihana was one of the native boys who were presented with an illuminated address at a social function at the Arowhenua Pa in May 1920 (after the last man had returned). The hall was beautifully decorated, and there was a large attendance. Mr Pitama (president of the Tuahiwi Patriotic Committee) and Mr Teaika (representing Mr W. H. Uru, member for the Southern Maori District) were present. Excellent music was provided, and there were songs, dancing and a dainty supper. “The Maoris of Arowhenua could well be proud of the fact they had given to the war as a volunteer every boy capable of bearing arms, and he understood it was the same at Kaiapoi,” said Mr T. Gunnion, the Mayor of Temuka. “These were records that the Maoris could justly be proud of.”

T. Reihana was selected for the team to represent the Maori Sports Club in a football match against Temuka juniors in July 1921. He may well have been elected to the executive of the Maori Sports Club in November 1932. Tupi (Tupai or his brother Tuki?) Reihana, a labourer residing at the Maori Pa gave evidence July 1926 regarding a motor accident. At a meeting of the Arowhenua Runanga convened in the Maori Hall at the beginning of September 1926, for the purpose of electing a successor as chairman to the late Mr Hemiona Torepe, it was Tupai Reihana who nominated the successful candidate, Mr Chas. Taipana. It was in September 1926 that Tupai Reihana married Lavinia Patuki Wetere (also known as Wesley). Lavinia had a daughter Marama Wesley born in 1921 and Taare Reihana was born to Tupai and Lavinia in 1923. They had seven more children, thereafter.

For the Milford Lagoon Recreation Association’s annual picnic held on New Year’s Day 1929, T. Reihana was one of the association’s Maori events officers, and again in 1930. Mrs Tupai Reihana was place din the Maori Women’s race and the Awhina race in November 1929. In July 1931, Mr T. Reihana was elected to the Arowhenua Native School committee. The euchre party and dance given by the Maori Anglican Women’s Guild in early November 1931 was a great success, especially so for Tupai Reihana who won the men’s trophy for the euchre competitions. Tupai had been elected a new member of the Temuka branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association on 3 August 1931. When Tupai Reihana was charged in April 1933 with procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order, the Magistrate ordered that the information be translated into Maori, and re-served. He pleaded guilty. “The Magistrate said that he would give Reihana a chance but warned him not to break the order again. Reihana would have to pay costs amounting to 15/6.” In May 1935, Tupai Reihana voluntarily appeared in court for riding a bicycle without lights. He was fined 10/- with costs 3/-. In July 1936, when the Maoris were seeking an irrigation scheme for Arowhenua, Tupai Reihana said that with an extensive irrigation scheme at their “back door” the Maoris should have every opportunity of securing a similar scheme for their holdings which aggregated several hundreds of acres. On either side of the pa was a stream capable of supplying more than the amount of water that would be required, and it seemed most likely that either of them could be tapped. At a funeral at the Temuka Cemetery in late September 1939, Messrs T. Reihana and K. Selwyn represented the Maori Returned Soldiers. “You must be a bit optimistic to think that you can pay £1 a week out of a wage of £8/14/- a fortnight and keep a family of six children,” said the Magistrate, when Ned Reihana, of Arowhenua, offered to pay a judgment summons for £6/17/3 issued by Morrison and Sons, Temuka, by this means. Reihana was ordered to pay off the amount at the rate of £1 a month. [Timaru Herald, 10 June 1942.]

Tupai Reihana (Ned) died on 4 July 1968 at his Temuka residence, aged 73 years. Following a service at the Arowhenua Maori Hall, he was buried at the Arowhenua Maori Cemetery (Holy Trinity Cemetery), where a services stone marks his grave. Members of the Temuka R.S.A. attended his funeral. His wife, Lavinia Patuki Reihana, had died in March 1945 and was buried at Arowhenua, three of their sons buried with her. He was survived by five daughters and two sons. Tupai died intestate. On 12 February 1969, letters of administration of his estate, effects and credits were granted to his youngest son Joseph Tumanako Reihana (Joe) and his daughter Te Manahiri Irihapeta Waaka. They believed that special circumstances existed that warranted a joint administration. At a meeting of interested persons it had been decided that two persons rather than one should undertake administration because agreement could not be reached on the appointment of a sole administrator. It had been the wish of their late father that his estate should be administered by a son and a daughter. All the surviving siblings consented to administration to said brother and sister. Their brother Taare Wetere Tekahu Reihana had died and left two sons who also consented. Two sons of Tupai and Lavinia served in World War Two – Taare Wetere Te Kaahu Reihana who was killed in action in Italy on 10 April 1945 and John Tupai Reihana who served in Korea too. Tupai’s younger brother, Tuki Reihana, served with the 28th Maori Battalion in World War Two. Three cousins of Tupai, sons of his mother’s sister, served in World War One – Arapata Koti P. Whitau who was killed in action on 8 June 1916 at the Somme, Mussy Tuapaoa Whitau, and Puaka Whitau who died of illness on 10 October 1915 in England. Both Tuapaoa and Puaka named their aunt, Mrs Miria Kemara, as next-of-kin.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [01 November 2016]; Attestation Paper for Australian Imperial Force (National Archives of Australia) [06 September 2013];NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [01 November 2016; 19 March 2024]; Holy Trinity Cemetery, Arowhenua, headstone transcriptions (South Canterbury Branch NZSG records) [1 November 2016]; Arowhenua Maori Cemetery headstone image (Find A Grave) [19 March 2024]; Timaru Herald, 25 August 1897, 20 November 1913, 1 October 1914, 9 May 1917, 31 July 1919, 13 October 1919, 3 November 1919, 25 May 1920, 4 September 1926, 20 July 1931, 4 August 1931, 6 November 1931, 12 April 1933, 10 May 1933, 15 May 1935, 20 July 1936, 2 October 1939, 10 June 1942, Press, 25 August 1897, Temuka Leader, 26 August 1897, 13 January 1898, 12 October 1899, 15 December 1900, 17 December 1903, 22 February 1908, 19 May 1908, 19 February 1914, 23 January 1917, 29 & 31 July 1919, 4 & 11 October 1919, 22 May 1920, 19 July 1921, 4 April 1922, 15 July 1926, 3 January 1929, 11 November 1929, 4 August 1931, Lyttelton Times, 22 January 1917, NZ Times, 22 January 1917, Press, 29 January 1917, 20 May 1918, Evening Post, 18 May 1918, Otago Daily Times, 25 May 1918 (Papers Past) [01 November 2016; 19 February 2017; 05 December 2023; 18 & 19 March 2024]; Timaru Herald, 5 July 1968 (Timaru District Library) [01 November 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [01 November 2016; 19 March 2024]; Probate record (Archives NZ Collections – Record number TU49/1969) [21 March 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• Soldiers Taipana and Reihana - Timaru Herald – 31 July 1919 (pdf, 51.4 KB updated 18-Oct-2017)
• REIHANA Tupai - newspaper clippings (pdf, 130.0 KB updated 16-May-2024)

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