Toki's place

View of the Hokianga River from above Toki's (Toki Pangari) property at Round Rock Narrows. Auckland Libraries Heritage Images Collections 1572-1206

So who was Toki? Toki Kingi Pangari was born around 1857 in the Panguru to Aporo Pangari and Maraea Rarotonga and had 4 siblings, his father married a 2nd wife and they had 4 more children. He married Waitote Maara Makara in 1912at Motukaraka aged 55 and they had 16 children altogether - he was an important Tohunga of the Ngatiuriahia.

In trying to find out more about him I came across this snippet from the Northland Age, 8 June 1934:

Apparently he was well known around Kaikohe in particular for his strange means of transport. He either used his horse and cart or rode his cow. 

He was a Ngapuhi chief and an important authority on Maori history and traditions. He built his own canoes to cross the Kohukohu River and was responsible for designing the 15.9 metre Ngapuhi waka (Little Ngatokimatawhaorua) which was carved by Ree Kauere in 1836 from a single Kauri tree taken from the Russell State Forest at Ngaiotonga specially for the Treaty of Waitangi Centenary of 1940.

He passed away on April 1956 - if you know where he is at rest or if you have anymore information about him please leave a comment.

There are quite a few articles about him that I found:

Was the Turehu at work on the canoe?

Turehu voices heard in the Puketi bush.

The Medal from Haro Hongi.

Information taken from New Zealand: History and Natural History.
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