About Me
Ko Taumatamahoe ko Kokohuia nga maunga, Ko Tangonge te moana, Ko Tipaki ko Wairoa nga awa, Ko Tinana toku waka, Ko Te Rarawa toku iwi, Ko Te Uri o Hina, Ngati Te Ao, Te Tahawai nga hapu, Ko Te Uri o Hina te marae, Ko Hohou Te Rongo ko Ngamotu nga whare. Ko Ahjun Busby Ahoy toku ingoa, I am the nephew of Leopold Puhipi and Ponaute Puhipi, one paid the ultimate price in Italy and the other was a POW captured in Crete. Both sons followed in thier father Haimona Puhipis footsteps as one who served in the Great War 1914 to 1918 in the first Native Contingent to Gallipoli and then under the newly named Pioneer Maori Battalion on the Western Front. Haimonas father Riopo was the "driving force" behind the erection of the Angel Statue in 1916 in Kaitaia. This was one of the countries first sculpted statues commemorating soldiers who did not return from WW1. Over time the memorial was extended to commemorate other wars involving NZ.