Whetu Deryk Kempton-Werohia
Details | Pito Kōrero
Description | WhakamāramaTe Whetu Werohia was a well known man of his time, His fame lay in part to his exceptional singing ability and range and his eye catching and heart capturing haka skills. He was an entertainer during WW1 and was a lead in all aspects of Kapa Haka for The Penny Divers of Company B of 28th Māori Battalion. He also held esteemed leadership duties as an orator and a keeper of customs. Pita Awatere coined this saying about him, paying homage to his origins in Rangataua and his fierce leadership “te taniwha o Rangataua’ - the ferocity of Rangataua.
Te Whetu was the son of Henare Werohia Te Whetu and Merepaora Paraihe Taipari (McLeod). He was descended of the Ngā Pōtiki, Ngāi Te Rangi, Tuhourangi and Ngāti Wāhiao. He and his twin sister Wikitoria were born in 1889 at Mangatawa. Tragically Wikitoria was claimed by The Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918.
Te Whetu started school in Whakarewarewa before moving with his family to Pāpāmoa, where he then attended Pāpāmoa Native School. Following his primary years he then attended Te Aute College. Immediately following the end of school, the First World War occured and he enlisted to the Expeditionary force. He was a man well acquainted with entertaining the masses, a skill that he utilised during his time at war to lift the spirits of his fellow soldiers.
Te Whetu met his wife Margery Dinah Kempton in Cambridge England during the first World War, whilst at Officer training. It is understood that their combined love of musicianship is what attracted the pair.
It is also during this training period that Te Whetu made his way to the land of his Great Grandfather John Mcleod at Dunvegan Castle, The Isle of Skye in Scotland. Te Whetu returned with his wife to Pāpāmoa, where they began their family. They had three children, Hikurangi (Blythe), Dinah and Whetu (Deryk).
He is remembered and revered as a man of great substance, who honoured his word and conducted all his affairs in fairness, honesty and integrity. He was resolute, he was bold, a respected pillar of all his many societies.
In the second World War, both Te Whetus sons also enlisted. Whetu (Deryk) accompanied him into Company B of The 28th Māori Battalion and Hikurangi (Blythe) enlisted with The Royal NZ Airforce. Hikurangi was successful in his training to become a Pilot and was awarded his title in Canada. It was here during 1941-1942 that he met his fiance, an Ottawa local girl. They were due to be married on 22 August 1942. Unfortunately tragedy struck. Hikurangis plane plunged into Picton Harbour in Ontario killing both himself and his two co crew on board. He was buried there in Ottawa Ontario and remains there today He was 5 days shy of his 21st Birthday. On hearing of his passing, his family at Mangatawa decided to honour and remember him with a song. His cousin Tatai Blake was in deep distress at his passing, it was she who composed his memorial song ‘E Hiku e’ - a song of love and despair at the loss of Hikurangi Blythe Kempton-werohia. There were two children born near the time of his passing who were named in his memory, Ontario Ririnui (in remembrance of where he fell) and Hikurangi Blythe Reweti.
Whetu (Deryk) is fondly remembered as a cheeky fun loving man. Despite being in immediate and present danger, he wasn't one to concern himself with the perils of life, rather what he could make of it. During his time in Yokohama Japan, whilst on a boat within enemy territory he just casually threw dynamite over the side, so they onboard the boat could have some fish. This same scenario was played out again back in his home territory in the Rangataua harbour, where it is purported he took a couple of his nephews to see how many fish could be scored with a single dynamite. A memory held in fond regard by those who shared it. Jokes aside, just as his father was known as a man of strong morals and deed - he too was an exemplar of his father's fine breeding. A man of substance and integrity, who loved people and was loved by his people.
Te Whetu was the son of Henare Werohia Te Whetu and Merepaora Paraihe Taipari (McLeod). He was descended of the Ngā Pōtiki, Ngāi Te Rangi, Tuhourangi and Ngāti Wāhiao. He and his twin sister Wikitoria were born in 1889 at Mangatawa. Tragically Wikitoria was claimed by The Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918.
Te Whetu started school in Whakarewarewa before moving with his family to Pāpāmoa, where he then attended Pāpāmoa Native School. Following his primary years he then attended Te Aute College. Immediately following the end of school, the First World War occured and he enlisted to the Expeditionary force. He was a man well acquainted with entertaining the masses, a skill that he utilised during his time at war to lift the spirits of his fellow soldiers.
Te Whetu met his wife Margery Dinah Kempton in Cambridge England during the first World War, whilst at Officer training. It is understood that their combined love of musicianship is what attracted the pair.
It is also during this training period that Te Whetu made his way to the land of his Great Grandfather John Mcleod at Dunvegan Castle, The Isle of Skye in Scotland. Te Whetu returned with his wife to Pāpāmoa, where they began their family. They had three children, Hikurangi (Blythe), Dinah and Whetu (Deryk).
He is remembered and revered as a man of great substance, who honoured his word and conducted all his affairs in fairness, honesty and integrity. He was resolute, he was bold, a respected pillar of all his many societies.
In the second World War, both Te Whetus sons also enlisted. Whetu (Deryk) accompanied him into Company B of The 28th Māori Battalion and Hikurangi (Blythe) enlisted with The Royal NZ Airforce. Hikurangi was successful in his training to become a Pilot and was awarded his title in Canada. It was here during 1941-1942 that he met his fiance, an Ottawa local girl. They were due to be married on 22 August 1942. Unfortunately tragedy struck. Hikurangis plane plunged into Picton Harbour in Ontario killing both himself and his two co crew on board. He was buried there in Ottawa Ontario and remains there today He was 5 days shy of his 21st Birthday. On hearing of his passing, his family at Mangatawa decided to honour and remember him with a song. His cousin Tatai Blake was in deep distress at his passing, it was she who composed his memorial song ‘E Hiku e’ - a song of love and despair at the loss of Hikurangi Blythe Kempton-werohia. There were two children born near the time of his passing who were named in his memory, Ontario Ririnui (in remembrance of where he fell) and Hikurangi Blythe Reweti.
Whetu (Deryk) is fondly remembered as a cheeky fun loving man. Despite being in immediate and present danger, he wasn't one to concern himself with the perils of life, rather what he could make of it. During his time in Yokohama Japan, whilst on a boat within enemy territory he just casually threw dynamite over the side, so they onboard the boat could have some fish. This same scenario was played out again back in his home territory in the Rangataua harbour, where it is purported he took a couple of his nephews to see how many fish could be scored with a single dynamite. A memory held in fond regard by those who shared it. Jokes aside, just as his father was known as a man of strong morals and deed - he too was an exemplar of his father's fine breeding. A man of substance and integrity, who loved people and was loved by his people.
Video - Kiriata
Whetu Deryk Kempton-Werohia. Ngai Te Rangi Iwi, accessed 04/05/2026, https://ngaiterangi.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/595
