Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

William Koraka Kotua, also known as William Koraka Hopkinson, was born on 3 August 1893 or 1894 at Temuka. Just who exactly was William Korako Kotua/Hopkinson? Records suggest he was born to Mata Te Wera Te Ura Wirihana or Te Wera Te Ura. Or was he born Hopkinson? Yes, he was born William Koraka Hopkinson to Te Wera Te Ura; Kotua was his stepfather. Young Willie Kotua was educated at the Maori Pa School at Woodend, at Saltwater Creek, Woodend and Tuahiwi schools in North Canterbury, and in the North Island. His was the only Kotua name in the Saltwater Creek and Tuahiwi school records. He left school in December 1909 to work.

A general meeting of the Māori at Tuahiwi was held on the evening of 23 September 1914 “to consider telegrams received from Mr C. Parata. M.P., regarding the Maori contingents which the Government proposed sending to Egypt and Samoa. The telegrams stated that a contingent of 200 men was to be sent to Egypt, and 300 to Samoa; that the selection was to be made on a population basis; that 40 only were to be taken from the South Island, and seven of that number were to be chosen from the eight kaingas in Canterbury. . . . . . After considerable discussion, in which the Natives expressed disgust with the statement that seven men only were to be selected from the eight kaingas in Canterbury, it was resolved to ask Colonel Cossgrove to write to the member protesting against so small a number of men being taken from Canterbury. Tuahiwi, as the chief centre of the South Island, was entitled to send more than one man.” Among the men who gave their names in as volunteers for the Samoan Contingent was W. Kotua.

But Willie Kotua did not get away to Samoa. He fired for the Tuahiwi seniors in a miniature rifle shooting match against Rangiora in June 1915. He had enlisted at Avondale Military Camp on 13 November 1914, having previously registered for compulsory military training at Rangiora Kaiapoi. He stood at 5 feet 9 inches, weighed 10 stone, had a chest measurement of 32-35 inches, and was of fair complexion, eyes and hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed, and his teeth good. Free from diseases and vaccinated, he was in good bodily and mental health. A labourer residing at Kaiapoi but of Turakina, single and of Church of England affiliation, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs [Mattier]/Martha Kotua, Turakina. His mother was recorded as “Martha” Kotua - a transliteration of mother - her name was in fact Te wera Te ura. He himself signed as Korako Kotua.

Private William Koraka Kotua embarked with the 2nd Maori Contingent, departing from Wellington on 18 September 1915 per the “Waitemata” and disembarking at Suez, Egypt on 26 October. He joined his Unit at Moascar on 20 January 1916. Private Kotua embarked for France at Port Said on 9 April 1916. Over the next three years there followed several hospital admissions, interspersed with misconduct penalties. Absent from duty without leave for ten hours on 20 April, however, he was awarded 7 days’ Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeited 2 days’ pay. Then on 15 June 1916 at Armentières, he was awarded 14 days’ Field Punishment No. 2 for discharging urine in the signalling office. He was admitted, sick, to No.1 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on 28 July 1916 and to the Venereal Hospital at Camiers the next day [29 July] (VDG – Gonorrhea). It was 31 August when he was discharged from the hospital and attached to the New Zealand Infantry and General Base Depot at Etaples. He rejoined his Battalion (Pioneers Battalion) in the Field on 4 October.

Sent to Hospital on 8 February 1917, Private Kotua was discharged on 11 February and rejoined his Battalion (Pioneer Battalion) from Hospital on 27 February 1917. He was awarded 14 days’ Field Punishment No. 2 on 10 March 1917 for disobedience. He was then awarded 28 days’ Field Punishment No.1 and forfeited 2 days’ pay on 11 April 1917 for absence without leave. On 29 May 1917, for absence while on Active Service, he was awarded 70 days’ Field Punishment, forfeited all ordinary pay for a period of 42 days, forfeited 4 days’ pay under Royal Warrant, and was confined awaiting trial. Taken sick on 13 June 1917, he was admitted to No. 9 Australian Field Ambulance, then to the Casualty Clearing Station the next day [14 June] - to the 10th Convalescent Depot in France with slight bronchitis, and on 15 June admitted to No. 51 General Hospital at Etaples. While at the General Hospital he had to forfeit all ordinary pay for 21 days for hesitating to comply with an order. On 6 July he was discharged to the General Base Depot, France, and the next day attached to the New Zealand Infantry, marching out and rejoining his Unit in the Field on 9 August. But just two days later [11 August 1917] he was sent to hospital. Admitted to No. 1 New Zealand Field Ambulance on 13 August, he rejoined his Unit from the Field Ambulance on 23 August 1917, only to be evacuated to Hospital and admitted to the Field Ambulance on 10 September, suffering from influenza. He again rejoined his unit in the Field on 15 September 1917. Absenting himself for three days without leave a week later, while on active service, he was awarded 28 days Field Punishment No. 1 and again forfeited 4 days’ pay under Royal Warrant.

Willie had more run-ins with the military regualtions. On 13 December 1917, Private Kotua was awarded 14 days’ Field Punishment No.2 and forfeited one day of pay under Royal Warrant. This time he had been absent from a working party and caused his work to be performed by another soldier. He was next admitted to Hospital – to No.2 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station on 18 December 1917, with VDS (Venereal Disease – Syphilis), then admitted, sick, to No.51 General Hospital at Etaples on 20 December. On 13 January 1918, William Kotua was discharged to duty from the Venereal Hospital at Rouen, and on 14 February discharged to the General Base Depot and attached to the New Zealand Infantry. In the meantime, he had been awarded 7 days Field Punishment No.1 for absence from treatment for VDS on 21 January and for a second absence on 22 January. After marching in at Abeele on 21 February, he incurred 14 days’ Field Punishment No.2 and forfeited 14 days’ pay for breaking out of camp on the morning of 26 February 1918 while on Active Service and remaining absent until the night of 27 February. Yet again, 14 days’ Field Punishment No.2 were awarded in March. While on Active Service and when in custody, Kotua escaped from the guard room at 7pm on 9 March 1918 and remained absent till he reported back again about 8pm. On 21 March he was able to rejoin his Battalion.

On 5 April 1918, Private Kotua, Maori (Pioneer) Battalion, incurred 28 days Field Punishment No.2 for absence without leave and drunkenness while on Active Service. 28 days Field Punishment No.1 were awarded on 4 May 1918 for drunkenness when a defaulter while on Active Service. After being detached to the Field Punishment Compound the next day, he rejoined from there on 1 June. He incurred 14 further days Field Punishment No.2 on 6 July 1918 for conduct to the prejudice of good order and failing to obey an order given by his Senior Officer. Going to hospital, sick, on 15 July 1918, Private Kotua was admitted to the New Zealand Field Ambulance. On 21 July 1918 he was admitted to No.3 Canadian Stationary Hospital – ICT (inflammation of connecting tissue) right leg. Then admitted to No.1 Australian General Hospital on 23 July, he was transferred from there to the Convalescent Depot at Rouen on 26 July, and to the 11th Convalescent Depot on 28 July. Finally, he was discharged to the General Base Depot, France on 23 August 1918 and attached to the New Zealand Infantry the next day. Kotua forfeited two days pay for absence without leave from 18 September 1918 till 19 September at Etaples. He was admonished and forfeited one day of pay for further absence without leave from 28 September 1918 until 27 September. In October 1918 at Etaples, Kotua faced the Field General Court Martial. He had been absent without leave from 7 October till 23 October 1918. He pleaded guilty and, on being found guilty, he was awarded 90 days Field Punishment and more. On 19 January 1919, W. K. Kotua was admitted to the V.D. Section of No.3 New Zealand General Hospital at Codford. He was discharged to the V.D. Convalescent Section on 8 February. He was again admitted to the Venereal Hospital at Codford (VDG) on 28 March, but in the interim at Sling he had been awarded 28 days’ Detention. Discharged from there to Stafford Barracks on 4 March, he was readmitted to the V.D. Section of No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital (Codford) on 24 March 1919. Discharged to the V.D. Convalescent Section at Codford on 17 April, he was then discharged from there to Sling on 22 April.

Private Kotua embarked for the return home per the “Waimana” (Returning Draft 257), leaving London for New Zealand via Panama on 10 May 1919 with 1675 soldiers and one woman on board and arriving on 23 June 1919. This was the largest draft despatched to New Zealand to date. William’s intended address, on return, was Tuahiwi, Kaiapoi, Christchurch. He was, however, not forgotten by his Temuka folk. On 14 July 1919, a welcome home social and presentation was tendered to Captain Pohio and Private Kotua in the Drill Hall, Temuka. There was a large attendance, all parts of the district being represented, and the evening was spent in a most enjoyable manner. Just before supper the opportunity was taken to present the returned men with handsome gold medals. In making the presentation Mr Gunnion, Mayor of Temuka, apologised for the absence of Private Kotua, and called on Mrs Kotua, the soldier’s mother, to accept the medal on her son’s behalf. Unfortunately, the restricted train arrangements prevented Private Kotua from reaching Temuka in time for the social. Mr Gunnion expressed his pleasure in having the honour of presenting the medals on behalf of the recipients’ Maori friends. Cheers were then given for the returned soldiers, and amidst the singing of “For they are jolly good fellows,” the medals were then pinned on - Private Kotua’s on his mother’s dress. Captain Pohio, on behalf of Private Kotua and himself thanked his Temuka friends for the honour they had bestowed on them. Following a haka and welcome home song, the National Anthem closed the presentation proceedings and a nicely laid supper and a dance concluded the evening.

William Kotua was discharged on 23 July 1919, on the termination of his period of engagement. He had served for well over three years in Egypt and Western Europe and was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. For a time after returning home, Willie had more issues with the authorities. A charge of behaving in a threatening manner with intent to provoke a breach of the peace was laid against William Korako Kotua in the Magistrate’s Court at Kaiapoi in August 1919 and adjourned. Pleading guilty at the next court sitting, he was fined £1. On a further charge of using indecent language, he was convicted and discharged. In late June 1920, William Korako Hopkinson and Florence Hopkinson were jointly charged with the theft of one aluminium clock and one woollen muffler, value 37s. 6d., and were remanded till later in the week. Bail was allowed in £15 and one surety of £15, in respect of each accused. The two, William Korako Hopkinson and Florence Hopkinson, who were charged at the Magistrate’s Court with the theft of a muffler and comb, valued at 37s 6d, admitted that they had removed the articles from a boarding-house in Thorndon quay, but denied that they had any guilty intent in doing so. The female accused said that she was in the habit of borrowing articles from the house and had been careless over the matter of returning them. Both she and the male defendant admitted that they had ridden in taxi-cars at the expense of the car owners — that the taxi men were still looking for their money. The young woman had apparently had a bad influence on the man since they had met and lived together. Mr C.A.L. Treadwell, who appeared for the female accused, indignantly denied the suggestion of any improper conduct, as according to Maori custom the parties were man and wife. The Magistrate convicted and ordered the woman to come up for sentence when called upon and ordered the man to pay a fine of £4 or go to gaol for 21 days.

On 19 August 1920 at the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court, Koraka Kotua was brought up on a charge of failing to maintain his illegitimate child. He admitted paternity but stated that he was a labourer doing nothing at present and had married another woman according to Māori custom two months ago. He was ordered to pay 10/- a week, £l2 5s confinement expenses, £6 past maintenance, and £2 2s costs. At the Rangiora Magistrate’s Court on 16 August 1921, William Korako Kotua (27 years) and two others were charged with having stolen on or about June 9 at Tuahiwi one sheep of the value oi 12s. All the accused pleaded guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Their defence counsel said that the offence resembled more a case of mischief. If they had not pleaded guilty it was doubtful if there would have been a shred of evidence against them. While the other two given two years’ probation, Kotua, who had several previous convictions, was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment. A photograph of Katua William Korako, alias Kotua, alias Hopkinson William Korako was published in the NZ Police Gazette dated 2 August 1922. Again at Rangiora, in December 1925, William Korako Kotua, alias Hopkinson, pleaded guilty to a charge of having stolen seven Indian Runner ducks, valued at £l 8s. The sergeant stated that accused found the ducks in the Cam River and drove them to his home at Tuahiwi. Next morning he entered them for sale at the Rangiora market, where they were identified by the owner’s brother. Accused, who had several previous convictions against him, including a sentence for sheep-stealing, was sentenced to one month’s hard labour at Paparua Prison. At Kaiapoi in June 1927, William Korako Kotua, charged with entering licensed premises during the currency of a prohibition order, was convicted and discharged, and on a charge of procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order was fined £2 and costs 10s.

William Koraka Hopkinson married Hera Parehouani Rupene at the Kaiapoi Presbyterian Church on 19 October 1926. At least twelve, probably thirteen or more, children were born to William and Hera between 1920 and 1941, one registered as Kotua, the others as Hopkinson. Probably all were born at Tuahiwi. William Korako Kotia was at Tuahiwi in 1919. It was at Tuahiwi that William and Hera raised their family and spent their entire married life, family members often close by. Likely W. Hopkinson who won a men’s prize at the annual euchre party in connection with the Woodend School in mid-December 1932 was Willie. W. Hopkinson. He was also one of the pall-bearers when, after a tangi lasting three days, for Kereopa Harawira who was conveyed to its last resting place at the Tuahiwi cemetery on 31 March 1933. Good news came in April 1937, when the Ngai-Tuahuriri Basketball Club held a hard-up social in the Tuahiwi Hall. One of the winners of special prizes was Mr W. K. Hopkinson. And the winners of one of the novelty dances were Mr and Mrs W. K. Hopkinson (Monte Carlo).

Come World War Two, William Korako Hopkinson demonstrated a willingness to serve - enlisting again on 20 August 1941 at Christchurch (806701). He was married with five children still under the age of sixteen (eight in total), and listed as of Church of England affiliation. He rfecorded that he had served for 3½ years with the NZEF in World War One, and he preferred service with the Signallers. Most was good with his medical in 1941, although a few notes were made – He had been at Christchurch Hospital in 1925 for kidney trouble; he had palpable thyroid, multiple scars of small boils on his buttocks and flat feet. His age was also noted (45 years, a birthdate of 3 August 1896 having been given). A slaughterman with the State Forestry Department at Tuahiwi, he named his wife as next-of-kin – Hera Pourahouria Hopkinson, of Tuahiwi, Kaiapoi. He was stationed at Burnham, Sumner, Christchurch and Lytteleton. Again, there were hospitalisations and a couple of punishments. An interim report dated 1 February 1944 noted that his grading was deferred and he was to continue as an outpatient at Christchurch Hospital, remaining on pay. The March 1944 report was the same. As of April 1944, he was not fit to live in Camp. His army pay, including 14 days’ leave, was to cease and then he would have leave without pay. He was finally discharged from the New Zealand Military Forces on 1 September 1948.

William Korako Hopkinson (Largo) died at his Tuahiwi residence on 31 August 1970, aged 78 years. His next-of-kin was Hera Hopkinson, Tuahiwi, Canterbury. He was the beloved husband of Hera Parehauani, and the loved father of Tom, Tahu, Mutu, Leslie, Joan (Mrs Kitto), Ann (Mrs McKay), Samuel, Albert, Rahera (Mrs Harmon), William, and the late John, Billy Crane and Magdalene. After a service at the Tuahiwi Hall, he was buried alongside other family members at Tuahiwi Maori Cemetery. When Hera died on 1 September 1995 she was buried with William. Hera Parehouani Hopkinson (Rupene) was the loving wife of the late Wirimu Korako Te Uru Hopkinson, and the loving mother and mother-in-law of Tom and Dorry, Tahu and Joy, Mutu and Betty, Les, Joan and Martin, Annie and Rex, Sam and Delores, Albert and Anne, Josephine and Jack, Bill and Kathy, and the late John Felix, Edwin Crane Hopkinson, and Mary Magalene. Also remembered on the headstone is William Crane Hopkinson who was killed in action at El Alamein, Egypt on 24 October 1942. William Edwin Mission Poua Hopkinson was born on 28 February 1922, the second son of William and Hera. It appears that he was adopted by Hera’s sister, Lavinia Rupene who married William Edwin Crane. William Edwin Hopkinson served in World War Two as William Edwin Crane. Billy was serving overseas when his adoptive father died in 1941. He was one of six soldiers from the settlement who had given their lives and were remembered at a tangi at Tuahiwi in January 1943. John Felix Maheno Hopkinson, the eldest son, died as the result of an accident in 1931, aged 11 years, and was buried at Tuahiwi. Thomas Titiro Hopkinson Kotua (known as Toni) and Tahu Potiki Komiti Hopkinson, the third and fourth sons respectively, both served with the Maori Battalion in World War Two. Samuel Marsden Hamuera Te Muru Rupene Hopkinson, the tenth in the family, also served with the military. By his Will, dated 1962, William Korako Hopkinson assigned specific acreage to his sons Tahu Hopkinson and William Mitiriya Hopkinson and equal shares in his estate to all his surviving children. At the date of William’s death (1970), his only assets were $100 in the Post Office Savings Bank and shares in Maori land holdings worth approximately $414. Probate was taken out only in February 1972, it being necessary in order to obtain succession order to the Maori land holdings. When Hera Parehouani Hopkinson made her Will in 1991, she specifically named sons – Teoti Pita Motu Hopkinson, Hamuere Rupene Te Muri Hopkinson, Korako Anthony Hopkinson (also known as Korako Anthony Kotua), Ngaitahu Potiki Hopkinson, William Mitirieya Hopkinson, Leslie Charles Hopkinson, Samuel Rupene Hopkinson, Albert Duncan Hopkinson; and daughters – Joan Felicity Kitto, Anni Hera McKay, Josephine Muriwai Harmon.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [14 February 2017]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5922 0065571) [03 March 2017]; School Admission records (Waimakariri Branch NZSG) [14 February 2017]; Press, 25 September 1914, 17 June 1915, 26 August 1919, 3 September 1919, 20 August 1920, 27 August 1921, 10 December 1925, 16 June 1927, 18 January 1943, 19 August 1954, 1 & 2 September 1970, 2 & 4 September 1995, NZ Times, 4 June 1919, Timaru Herald, 17 July 1919, Temuka Leader, 17 July 1919, Lyttelton Times, 2 September 1919, 20 August 1920, Sun, 2 September 1919, 19 August 1920, Dominion, 29 June 1920, Evening Post, 2 July 1920, Star, 19 August 1920, 17 August 1921, 9 December 1925, NZ Police Gazette, 2 August 1922, January 1926, North Canterbury Gazette, 16 December 1932, 31 March 1933, 20 April 1937 (Papers Past) [03 August 2014; 14 & 17 February 2017; 05 October 2022; 19 December 2023; 21 & 22 July 2026]; Tuahiwi Cemetery headstone transcription [14 February 2017]; Tuahiwi Cemetery headstone image (Find A Grave) [06 December 2023]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [14 February 2017; 06 December 2023; 20 July 2026]; SCRoll submission from J. Harmon, 16 July 2026; Probate record (Archives NZ Collections – Record number CH163/1972) [20 July 2026]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• KOTUA William Korako - newspaper clippings (pdf, 120.2 KB updated 14-Aug-2026)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS