Tamati, Tomai

Tomai Raniera Tamati was born in Waitara on 25 February 1922, one of 13 children of Henare Tamati (1893-1975) and Ruakirikiri Waikanae Georgina Tamati (nee Tamihana/Thompson) (1900-1990).

Known as Tip or Tippy, Tomai enjoyed playing rugby league and was working as a farmhand, still living at home in Lepperton, when he enlisted in 1943 – tangata whenua were exempt from conscription during the Second World War so Tip volunteered, along with nearly 16,000 other Māori. A large crowd of friends and family threw him a farewell dance at Lepperton Hall on 21 June 1943, at which he and two other locals heading overseas were presented with leather bags and gifts by the Women's Division of the New Zealand Farmers' Union (WDFU).

Tip served as a Private with the famous 28^th Māori Battalion, leaving New Zealand on the troop ship Nieuw Amsterdam. He was reported wounded in August 1944 and again in May 1945, presumably recovering in between, and awarded the War Medal 1939-1945 and the New Zealand Service War Medal upon his return.

Tip married Grace Kerehi Ruha (1923- March 1972) in 1947 and the couple had three children: Tomai, Katherine (Lovey) and Mary.

Tomai Tamati died on 6 May 1987 aged 65. His tangi was held at Muru Raupatu Marae and he is buried in the Services Area of Waitara Cemetery.