Kingi Areta Keiha

Kingi Areta Keiha (24December 190029May 1961) was a New Zealand law clerk, interpreter, soldier, Māori welfare officer and farmer. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti and Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki iwi. He was born in Gisborne, East Coast, New Zealand on 24 December 1900. His father was Mikaere (Mikaera) Pare Keiha Turangi, brother of Heni Materoa Carroll, who was married to Sir James Carroll.

Early life and family Keiha was educated at Gisborne School, and attending Otago Boys' High School, where he became a prefect, served as a cadet platoon sergeant and distinguished himself in rugby, cricket and swimming. In 1920 he joined the Gisborne legal firm of Nolan and Skeet as a law clerk, later qualifying as a first-grade Māori interpreter.

He initially played Rugby for Otago Boys' High School. However, Golf quickly became his chief pastime. Keiha became a long-time member of the Poverty Bay Golf Club and competed regularly in club championships and representative matches throughout the 1920s and early 1930s.

He represented Poverty Bay in interprovincial matches against Napier and Wairoa, and qualified for major amateur championships, including the New Zealand Amateur Championship at Shirley in 1925 and the Hawke's Bay Golf Championships in 1929.

By the outbreak of the Second World War Keiha was recognised as one of Gisborne's best-known Māori sportsmen. Contemporary newspaper reports described him as a prominent player of the Poverty Bay Golf Club who had competed in a New Zealand amateur championship.

Military service Keiha reached battalion command of the 28th Māori Battalion during its last action in North Africa.

Keiha was among the earliest Gisborne volunteers to enrol for service with the proposed Māori Battalion. His enlistment was announced in October 1939, when he was described as a married 39-year-old law clerk and interpreter from Gisborne.

In January 1940 Keiha was selected as one of four Gisborne men nominated to attend the Army Training School at Trentham to qualify as officers before embarking with the first Māori contingent for overseas service. The other nominees included the future military leader and author Arapeta Awatere.

Commissioned into the 28th (Māori) Battalion, Keiha served throughout the Greek, Crete and North African campaigns, gaining a reputation for courage and leadership.

During the First Battle of El Alamein Keiha commanded a company of the battalion and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry.

November 1942, Keiha was promoted to the rank of Major.

On his arrival at Gisborne he received a civic welcome at the railway station before being welcomed at Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae. Deputy Mayor Herbert Hagan DeCosta noted that Keiha had "left Gisborne as a private, sailed from New Zealand as a second lieutenant and has returned with the high rank of lieutenant-colonel", recognising his rise through the ranks and his distinguished service with the Māori Battalion.

Later Career After returning from military service, Keiha joined the newly established Rehabilitation Department as a Māori Rehabilitation Officer, assisting returned Māori servicemen with their transition to civilian life.

Titirangi Domain Keiha remained closely connected with the ancestral lands of his Whānau (family) at Titirangi (Kaiti Hill). In October 1949 he represented the descendants of the original Māori owners during the formal transfer of Titirangi Domain into public trusteeship following its acquisition by the Gisborne Returned Services' Association.

The ceremony acknowledged that the original donation of Māori land interests by Lady Hēni Materoa Carroll and Pare Keiha had made possible the establishment of the public reserve. The trust provisions also required that nothing should desecrate the historic site of the famous Titirangi Pā.

Death and legacy

Keiha died suddenly at his home at Hexton on 29 May 1961, aged 60. He was survived by his wife, one daughter and three sons.

Keiha demonstrated his commitment to people throughout his life, and is remembered as one of the most distinguished Māori officers to serve with the 28th (Māori) Battalion from Tūranga (Gisborne), as well as actions that continue to impact today such as the gifting of Titirangi Domain.