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Cenotaph record

Ropata Wahawaha

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Ropata WAHAWAHA Awarded the New Zealand Cross for bravery during the New Zealand Wars.

Ropata WAHAWAHA

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Ropata AWMM
  • Surname
    Wahawaha AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
    Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Last known rank

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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • One of only 23 recipients who was awarded the New Zealand Cross (Source: Te Ara) AWMM
    • Awarded the New Zealand Cross for bravery during the New Zealand Wars. He had a turbulent early life when his tribe was attacked and he was taken as a prisoner. He was treated as a slave and assumed the name of his owner. He came to prominence later when the Hauhau missionaries came to the East Coast and began to win over his people. With others he succeeded in driving them away, but they appeared further south in Gisborne. The settlers there called for his assistance and at Te Kopani he achieved a significant victory. When Te Kooti attacked Poverty Bay in 1868, Major Wahawaha showed great courage and enterprise at Makareta Pa and Ngatapa, which resulted in him being awarded the New Zealand Cross. Once peace was restored he played a lead role in focusing his tribe (Ngati Porou) on education and land development, and he served on New Zealand's Legislative Council. Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 17 August 2023 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/177711873/ropata-wahawaha
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Death

About death

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  • Death
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
17 August 2023Lorraine MonaGisborne Researcher

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