VAIPO, Kapitirua (Mama Piti Vaipo)

Passed away on Tuesday 24th November 2009. 

Loving wife of the late Vaipo Vaipo Kavana and loving daughter of the late Papa Akaiti Ponga Kavana and Mama Vainerua Ponga. 

Loving mother of the late Mary, the late Julian, Noomaara, Papaiti (Keni), Teina Vaipo-Girard, Paul, Ani Vaipo-Sakaria, Rima and Tamaka. 

Loving sister of Mama Maki Teau, Poitirere Tupekea, Rautiare Spellman, Roiroi Makikiriti, Tangimama and Toko and the late Turiongo, Karangareka, Araturi, Mareta, Ukinga and Mataora. 

Loving sisterinlaw of Kite Ponga. 

http://www.familyarchives.co.nz/ViewNotice.aspx?nid=13178

Stories from the past...My grandmother (Mamapiti Vaipo) is a unique women and great historic storyteller.  I have heard many great stories from the past, this one I must tell or blog otherwise the verbal knowledge of an old wise one will vanish.

Aotearoa (New Zealand) – Anne or Ani Wihongi as known to our family.

Anne Wihongi a farmers daughter, destination of belonging, North of New Zealand around the Hokianga or Kaikohe area.  
Rimataei, our great great great grandfather came to New Zealand in the early 1950 and worked on the Wihongi farmer and so meet and falls in love with Anne Wihongi.  

Anne at this stage is a widow and were forbidden to fall in love.  To cut the story short Anne and Rimataei left New Zealand and settled in Mangaia(Cook Island), married and had beautiful children to name one (Akaiti Ponga) picture above.
Anne Whiongo is of Maori and Pakeha descendant, her love and courage to leave her family in Aotearoa over our great great great father is profoundly a mystery one could never understand.
Anne Whiongi, is a great woman who founded our family existence to this world.  A history that most of our wider families in New Zealand and Australia did not heard about.

Anne Wihongi passed away on the Island of Mangaia with her husband Rimataei, she did not return to Aotearoa New Zealand.  

When she passed, her last words to the whanau were not to look or find where she came from in Aoteroa.  Why? we will not go there, but to respect her wishes.  Ani or Anne is buried on the island of Mangaia, Karanga village.  

In loving memory of Anne Wihongi and Rimataei,

 may you rest in peace?