The last of the five original head claimants for the present Treaty of Waitangi claims for Muriwhenua, Ngati Kahu elder Rutherford McCully (Makari) Matiu, died at his home in Kaitaia on Thursday. He was aged 75.
His body lay at Haititaimarangai Marae at Whatuwhiwhi on Thursday night and was moved yesterday
to Te Potahi Marae at Te Kao, where he will lie in state until his funeral on Sunday or Monday.
Mr Matiu was born an raised on the Karikari Peninsula and at aged 13 he moved to Ahipara, where his father Reihana Matiu was a leading Te Rarawa elder.
McCully Matiu established a reputation as a rugby player and coach as a young man.
He was chairman of the Ngati Kahu Trust Board for more than 20 years and in the 1980s he set up Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngatikahu.
Mr Matiu is survived by his wife Mei, who lives at Te Kao, eight children and many mokopuna (grandchildren).
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
