Medal returned to whanau

Family member Manu Pene (left) receives the medal from RSA's William McDonald (right) while Stewart Brown from the Rotorua Museum watches on. Photo / Ben Fraser

A Rotorua family have received a piece of history back after a medal, gifted to the RSA more than 40 years ago, was returned to the whanau.

The New Zealand Medal, awarded to Arama Karaka Hutuha, was handed back to his family at a special ceremony at the Rotorua Museum on Saturday following the closure of the RSA.

Family spokesman Rangitihi Pene said the medal was awarded to his great-great-grandfather in the late 1860s and was with the family until the 1970s when Mr Pene's grandmother decided to gift it to the RSA.

Mr Pene said he had grown up with stories about Mr Hutuha.

"Our stories come from my grandmother who was raised by him. She had a lot of stories about him."

He said he was grateful when a cousin, George McLeod, contacted the family about the medal.

The New Zealand Medal, awarded to Arama Karaka Hutuha, was handed back to his family at a special ceremony at the Rotorua Museum. Photo/Ben Fraser

"We realised with the closure there might be a small chance to get it back. It was really important to us to get it back."

Mr Pene said the family were planning a big family reunion in 2017 and it would be good to have the medal as part of that.

In the meantime, he said the medal would likely remain in the care of the Rotorua Museum.

"The ceremony was at the top of the museum and there were at least four RSA members there which was a real privilege for us."

"The ceremony was a good reconnection with our past."

Mr Hutuha was born in 1854 and raised in Rotorua on Mokoia Island, at Te Ngae and on the coast at Maketu.

He lived a varied life including working as a Maori Constable at Te Wairoa before the Tarawera Eruption, as a Maori Land Court interpreter and a tribal leader.

As a young man he joined Captain Gilbert Mair's Te Arawa Flying Column based at Kaitereiria, a southern bay of Lake Rotokakahi (Green Lake).

As part of this Native Contingent he fought and chased the forces of Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki through the Arawa area. It is from this service he received the medal.

About Arama Karaka Hutuha

* Born in 1854

* Raised on Mokoia Island, at Te Ngae and Maketu

* Fought as part of the Native Contingent

* Received the New Zealand Medal