Kāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana

Ngā mate
He aituā, John Ellison
Haere atu rā e,
Haere atu te poutokomanawa o Ngāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana
Haere, e whai i o mātua tīpuna kua wehe atu rātou ki te pō
Hoki wairua mai ki te kāinga nā te Atua i hanga mō tātou katoa
Haere rā, haere rā e

It is with great sadness that we farewell one of our founding members and pou of Ngāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana, John (Hone) Ellison, direct decedent of Te Matenga Taiaroa and Hine Whareiua, grandson of Pirihana (Bill) Ellison and Katarina Tamihana, and son of Lydia EIlison.

A man of honour serving in the army 1 Bn NZ Regt Malaya 1957 – 59, always there to support returned servicemen with access to the NZ war pension service. In later years John took a deep interest in his whakapapa and studied te reo Māori. He was proud of his achievements making many new whānau connections.

John is survived by his wife Hilda, and three daughters one of whom is the Secretary for Ngāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana, Kim Ellison. He also leaves behind 17 mokopuna, each of whom, in their own way have inherited many of his qualities.

John Ellison at a bi-monthly hui of Ngai Tahu ki Tauranga Moana.

John Ellison at a bi-monthly hui of Ngai Tahu ki Tauranga Moana.