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Rua Cooper (Kaumatua of Tainui):
Haare Williams acknowledges the passing of Tainui kaumatua Rua Cooper and friend of Te Reo o Aotearoa. A well loved and respected kaumatua of Tainui who has traversed many marae throughout his New Zealand and attended many prominent functions from Governmental to the homely marae. There was nothing this great leader didn't know about Reo Māori me ona tikanga, not only Māori but also European as well as a leader in the church.
He was born at Mangatangi the second youngest of six boys. The main job at the time was shearing and cutting flax for the mills. In 1916, they moved to Mangatawhiri. As he was growing up his job was carting gum, cutting and transporting flax, his father was a driver carting pigs. During WWI Te Puea was instrumental in guiding and driving the "Kingitanga" movement also told her people not to go to war, the war belonged to the pakeha. In 1918, his dad died and his mother remarried, his stepfather taught Rua the waiata tawhito and moteatea. Their first language was Te Reo, when they spoke Māori at school they were strapped, needless to say they didn't spend too much time at school. He started work at fifteen, and they had twenty cows.
He spoke highly of Te Puea and all that she did for the Kingitanga, a very hard worker for her people, and it was about this time that Te Rata died. Rua Cooper was a great league player and a great carpenter during Apirana Ngata's time. He served under Te Rata, Koroki and Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
Mentions Sam Emery and playing league for Te Arawa in 1932-1933 and beat many teams throughout the country.
Arani Peita acknowledges the passing of Rua Cooper.