Reweti Tuhorouta Kohere


Rēweti Tūhorouta Kōhere was a New Zealand Anglican clergyman, newspaper journalist and editor, farmer, writer, historian. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngati Porou iwi. He was born in Orutua, East Coast, New Zealand on 11 April 1871. His parents were Hone Hiki Kohere and Henerata Bristow, and his grandfather was Mokena Kohere. His brothers were Henare Mokena Kohere and the Reverend Canon Poihipi Mokena Kōhere of Tikitiki.
After early years of schooling at Māori schools on the East Coast, he became fluent in English when he attended Gisborne School from 1885 to 1887. He then attended Te Aute College, where he graduated as the Dux of the school and qualified for university by passing the matriculation examination in 1890. In 1891 he joined the teaching staff at Te Aute College. He attended Canterbury College for three years from 1892, although he did not complete the BA degree course. He was assistant tutor at Te Rau Kahikatea Theological College from 1898 to 1908. In 1899 he was appointed editor of the Anglican church newspaper Te Pipiwharauroa.
On 14 December 1904 he married Keita Paratene, daughter of Paratene Tatae and Sarah "Hera" Halbert. Sarah was the daughter of Thomas Halbert, one of the founding fathers of Gisborne, and Kaikiri. Sarah was also the sister of Kate Wyllie and half-sister of Wi Pere and Otene Pitau. Her children also included All Blacks rugby players, William "Bill" Cunningham and Moana Paratene.
He was ordained as a deacon in 1907, and was appointed to Kawakawa, near East Cape. He was ordained as a priest in 1910. He also studied for the examinations of the Board of Theological Studies and in 1911 was awarded the Licentiate in Theology in 1911. In addition to his pastoral duties, he worked with his brothers on the family farm, as well as continuing to contribute to newspapers.
He contested one general election; in, he agreed to be the official Labour Party candidate in the electorate, and he came second after National's Āpirana Ngata.

Literature

Kohere annually contributed to the Māori magazine Te Ao Hou during its early years. Since the publication was printed bilingually, Kohere submitted Ngati Porou poetry with his own translations. One example is "Te Oriori a Hinekitawhiti mo tana Mokopuna mo Ahuahukiterangi/Hine-ki-tawhiti’s Oriori." The translation resulted in the poem possessing an ornate style comparable to English poets Burns and Tennyson. Sir Āpirana Ngata, a contemporary and whanaunga of Kohere, supplied his own translation of the oriori in Ngā Mōteatea: The Songs – Part I. Ngata mentions that his version opted to be, "faithful to the original Maori, thereby sacrificing the ornate to the literal." While both translations ultimately deliver the same material, their stylistic choices result in two different experiences: Ngata's blunt usage of simple language is far more accessibale when compared to Kohere's archaic English; although, Kohere's version requires a level of engagement from the reader that is absent in Ngata's.
In the Spring issue of the same year, Kohere's final contribution to the magazine would be published, "He Waiata A Hinetawhirirangi/Hinetawhirirangi’s Song". He also received a tribute in the "Haere ki o koutou tipuna" section, where his often uncredited involvement in the Young Māori Party was mentioned. The magazine would make continual references to the late writer in its subsequent issues, even years later, showing his impact on the readers and editors.
Kohere's final years also saw him publish works incredibly important for the eponymous whanau: The Story of a Maori Chief; and, The Autobiography of a Maori.

Publications