Just yesterday I received a copy of a letter dated 27 May 1873, from Colleen. This letter was written by the Native Assessor, Mr Abraham Taonui, to the Superintendent of Auckland, John Williamson, stating;
Letter 27 May 1873 from Abraham Taonui. – Colleen Stanaway Collection.
Sir – I the undersigned do consider Mr JJ Stanaway a fit and proper person to hold a licence for the Tokatoka Hotel.
Straight away we see John James mentioned as the holder of the Licence for the Tokatoka Hotel. I then saw the name of the writer – and I recognised that name, so I open my files and there it was.
It may be coincidence but it happens that Abraham Taonui (Aperahama Taonui) is the Uncle of John’s eldest son, William’s wife Susan Anderson – on her mother’s side.
From the Tera website we read the following about Abraham;
But in 1869 Aperahama left Hokianga and its intense disputes. Some thought him too deeply Christian and too sympathetic to the government. He went to live on the Wairoa River in northern Kaipara. Kinsmen from Ngati Whatua who had formerly been sheltered at Utakura by his relative, Muriwai, offered him sanctuary; subsequently, in February 1873, they gifted him 100 acres at Okapakapa and 2,061 acres at Oturei, south of Dargaville, in recognition of his role as prophet and healer. Therefore Aperahama moved from Aoroa to Oturei. He was appointed an assessor for Kaipara in 1873, but earned his living from gum-digging.
Check out more on this link http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2t7/taonui-aperahama
It would appear then that John would have had dealings with Abraham through gum digging also, and the Stanaway family through William’s line will go on and have more association with Abraham such as – William and Susan use the name Abraham for two of their sons, while three of their sons will be buried in the Oturei Native Cemetery.
Captain John James Stanaway 1813 - 1874 
Wow…….. how interesting is that. This sort of info is priceless. How wonderful that modern technology makes it so easy to produce and share.
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Kia Ora my mother is a only child to waraki a.k.a (Walter Tahurangi Karena who is buried in Te Ahuahu hokianga .my mother was born 1952 and left an orphan roughly at age of 5 .mum left rough copies of whanau links to which she was only discovering whanau in her 40s and unfortunately mum passed away 2014 .My queries are Te Ruhi Makaore she wrote on a piece of paper was mums great great grandmother also quoting she was a half sister of
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Kia Ora
interesting post Aaron , my Grandfather was Haki Tahurangi Karena , Walters brother , are you able to email me
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Kia Ora Tom,
Just doing some of my whakapapa and I stumbled across your comment. My Grandmother is June Castle who was your grandfathers younger sister. I have a few bits and pieces and you might have some other information too.
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Kia Ora Pania
Your one of Jonna’s girls aren’t you !!
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Kia ora, Tom
Ko Synteche Collins toku ingoa. I think we might be related, my Great Grandfather was Haki Tahurangi-Karena. My Koro was Walter Rangi-Collins. I have been researching my whakapapa and it would be great to talk to you to see if we are related. If you would like to make contact leave a message here – Admin will swap our details.
Ngā mihi maioha,
Synteche
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Kia ora Synteche
Nice to hear from you.
Yes it sounds like we are definitely related your koro is my mum’s older brother.
Would be great to make contact with you.
Hei konà mai
Tom
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