Name Hirini Rito | ||
Hirini Te Rito Whaanga (1828–1905) was a notable New Zealand Mormon missionary.
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Early life
He was born in Mahia Peninsula, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand in 1828. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngati Rakaipaaka iwi. Widowed twice, he married his third wife, Mere Mete Whaanga when she was 21. Together, they had three daughters and a son. However, one daughter and their son did not survive past childhood.
Conversion
In 1884 Mormon missionaries came to Hawke's Bay and his wife was receptive to them. The couple were baptized on November 30 by Mormon missionary John C. Stewart. The Whaanga family were some of the first Maori tribe members to be baptized, and they were followed by more than 200 members of their tribe in several weeks. He served as a missionary in New Zealand. Eventually he moved to Utah with Mere and a group of family members.
Death
He died and was buried there in 1905.