File:Rota Waitoa (12785384374).jpg

On 4 March 1860, Rota Waitoa was elevated to the office of priest by Bishop William Williams. Rota was born in Waitoa, and was of Ngāti Raukawa ancestry.

Waitoa was selected by Selwyn for training for the ministry. From 1843 he attended St John's College, which was established by Selwyn at Waimate North that year and in 1844 was shifted to Auckland. At St John's he was referred to as 'college butler' and was in charge of provisions; he went on to study and became master of the junior department of the Maori boys' school, Abraham scholar and catechist. He was described as 'a man of integrity and exceptional intelligence', possessing a warm, generous nature.

On 10 August 1848, at St John's Chapel, he married Te Rina Hinehuka of Ngāti Porou, a pupil at Margaret Kissling's school for Māori girls at Kohimarama. They had three children: Caroline Harriet, Wiremu Henare, and Hone, who like his father was to become an Anglican clergyman. After Te Rina Hinehuka's death, Waitoa married Harata Tiarete of Te Kawakawa. There were two children of this second marriage: Perepetua, sometimes known as Penepetua, and Wiremu Iharaira.

In 1866 a riding accident left Waitoa seriously injured. Selwyn invited him and his family back to Auckland. Waitoa died there on 22 July 1866, and was buried at St Stephen's cemetery, Judges Bay.

This item of correspondence is from the series of 19th century items Archives New Zealand holds from the Governor of New Zealand. This series of records is comprised of three kinds of correspondence: with Ministers, with persons other than Ministers within the colony, and with persons overseas. Letters from Ministers include comments upon subjects being discussed in Parliament and requests by Premiers for dissolution.

The internal letters are from officials, consuls, clergymen, Māori and individuals on a variety of subjects. They include letters from: • Rev. H. Williams concerning his land claims, • Commissioner W. Spain on the Wairau affray and the New Zealand Company's land claims, • reports from William Swainson on William Webster's land claims, • Donald McLean on his land purchases from Māori, • R.H. Wynyard on the disposition of Imperial forces, • Bishop Pompalier on the loyalty of the Roman Catholic Maori, • Rev. C. Volkner on hostile Maori movements in the Bay of Plenty.

Overseas letters include despatches from the War Office, and correspondence regarding the New Guinea Protectorate. This particular letter from Rota Waitoa from 1863 relates to his complaint at not being paid for his services as a priest whilst serving in Waiapu in the Gisborne district.

Reference: ACHK 16569 G13 2 4 archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=22399761

Some caption information has been sourced from Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand - www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1w2/waitoa-rota

A picture of Rota Waitoa can be found on Te Ara as well www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/30613/reverend-rota-waitoa

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