Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
Birth Name: Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron (or Kiri Janette Claire Te Kanawa)
Place of Birth: Gisborne, New Zealand
Date of Birth: 6 March, 1944
Ethnicity:
*father – Māori, as well as 1/16th Scottish, 1/16th Colonial American [English]
*mother – English
Kiri Te Kanawa is a New Zealand opera singer and actress. She performed at the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981.
Kiri is the biological daughter of Tieki “Jack” Wawatai, a butcher, and Mary Noeleen Rawstron. She was adopted and renamed Kiri Janette Claire Te Kanawa, by Tom Te Kanawa and Nell Leece. Her adoptive father was Māori and of Ngāti Maniapoto, and her adoptive mother was of English and Irish descent. She has two children with her former husband Desmond Park. She is affiliated with the Ngāti Te Kanawa sub-tribe of Ngāti Maniapoto.
Kiri is a fourth half-cousin of actor Manu Bennett, through their shared great-great-great-grandfather William Henry Rogers.
Kiri’s paternal grandfather was Te Owai “Joe” Wawatai (the son of Henare Wawatai and Harai Katokato Patuwai, of Ngāti Porou). Te Owai was born in Tikitiki, Gisborne, New Zealand. Henare was the son of Heta Wawatai and Raiha Tutaki Wikitapu.
Kiri’s paternal grandmother was Mere Tote “Mary Anne” Rogers (the daughter of Te Ngaroata Pokaihau “Jack” Rogers and Te Raiti). Jack’s father, Eruera Pokaihau Rogers, was the son of William Henry Rogers, a shipwright and storekeeper at Maketu, who emigrated to New Zealand from Salem, Massachusetts, U.S., sometime during the 1840s, and of Mereana Rangingangana of Te Arawa. Jack’s mother, Te Owai McDonnell, was the daughter of Thomas McDonnell, from Glasgow, Scotland, and of Pahemata Tauatahi Te Po of Ngā Puhi.
Kiri’s maternal grandfather was Albert James Rawstron (the son of Ernest Rawstron/Raustron and Hannah Maria Mitchell). Albert was born in Walton Le Dale, Lancashire, England. Ernest was the son of John Rawstron. Hannah was the daughter of James Mitchell and Brittannia Wilding. The surname Rawstron/Raustron is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is derived from Rostherne, a town in Cheshire, England.
Kiri’s maternal grandmother was Eliza/Liza Thelma Wittison (the daughter of Samuel Wittison, a mariner, and of Gertrude Ellen Johnson). Eliza was born in Kingston, Tasmania, Australia. Gertrude was the daughter of George Johnson and Ellen Stuart.
Sources: Genealogy of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa – https://www.geni.com
Christening record of Kiri’s maternal grandfather, Albert James Rawstron – https://www.familysearch.org
Kiri’s maternal grandfather, Albert James Rawstron, on the 1881 England and Wales Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Kiri’s maternal great-grandparents, Ernest Rawstron/Raustron and Hannah Maria Mitchell – https://www.familysearch.org
Christening record of Kiri’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Brittannia Wilding – https://www.familysearch.org
Kiri’s maternal great-grandmother, Hannah Maria Mitchell, on the 1871 England and Wales Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Kiri’s maternal grandmother, Eliza/Liza Thelma Wittison – https://www.familysearch.org
Grave of Kiri’s maternal grandmother, Eliza/Liza Thelma (Wittison) Rawstron – https://cemeterysearch.gdc.govt.nz
Marriage record of Kiri’s maternal great-grandparents, Samuel Wittison and Gertrude Ellen Johnson – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Kiri’s maternal great-great-grandparents, George Johnson and Ellen Stuart- https://www.familysearch.org
Documentary where Kiri talks about her family – https://www.youtube.com
Comrade, can you check Manu Bennett profile? Not the first time that Rogers pops out.
Here it states he was born in Salem, MA, USA: https://www.geni.com/people/William-Rogers/6000000010563733523 and here it states he came from Ireland: https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LH6S-Y1W/william-henry-rogers-1809-1879
Katarina/Kataraina Rangikawhiti and Mereana Rangingangana were both wives of William Henry Rogers. https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-northland-age/20111124/281814280674358
Here they mention Salem, MA: http://www.maori.org.nz/papapanui/archives/viewthread.php?TOPIC_ID=3961
I can’t find him on any NZ passenger lists but I think that could be because he came to NZ on a whaling ship. There’s a William Rogers that died in Maketu, NZ: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/175802040 (It could be him but I’m not sure).
Some ancestry.com trees list him as being born in Salem and some in Ireland maybe he was of Irish descent and born in USA?
Rogers does not strike as an Irish name.
Manu Bennett’s 4th cousin, right?
“Manu Bennett’s 4th cousin, right?”
Yes.
I agree Rogers doesn’t seem like an Irish name. Looks like his descendants don’t know where he was born either:
* http://www.names.nzearlyhistory.com/g1/p616.htm
* https://www.familytreecircles.com/william-henry-rogers-of-kaeo-whangaroa-new-zealand-kaikohe-and-maketu-16530.html
* http://www.lowerkaituna.co.nz/cmsAdmin/uploads/Vol-44-No-2.pdf “When William Rogers died at Maketu on 5 November 1874 at the age of 65 the Weekly News, 14 November, stated that he was a universally respected settler of 40 years standing. This probably meant that he had been in New Zealand for that length of time but not necessarily all of it at Maketu. His descendants understand that he was born in Massachusetts, U.S.A., and was a shipwright by profession, and that he spent some time in the Pacific islands.”
I think it should be added that her and Manu Bennett are 4th cousin.
Btw may I ask you one thing. Christian Cullen is said to have Samoan ancestry through a grandfather. Also Irish (the surname Cullen) and German. Can you verify it? Thank you.
@andrew Most articles state that his grandmother, Ana Kika (Kika is her middle name) was part Samoan. She died around 2009 but I haven’t found a grave or obituary yet. I don’t know if she died in Samoa or NZ.
I’m certain his parents are Christian G. Cullen and Patricia J. Cullen. They appear on the 1972-1981 census’ in Kapiti, NZ. Christian stated he grew up in Paekakariki which is on the Kapiti Coast.
Apparently he also claims Ngāi Tahu (Māori) ancestry though his grandfather:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3505454
I can’t verify until I know more about his family. Wikipedia says he’s related to Brian Steele. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Steele_(rugby_union) it could be that Steele is Patricia’s maiden name or Christian G. Cullen’s mother’s maiden name.
Thank you. Yeah, it’s from his grandmother. But it seems she is a German-Samoan.
Btw somewhere I read Christian’s father claimed his son was only 1/64 ( as a reply to his controversial call-up by NZ Maori team.
Documented 1/16 Maori ancestry is the current criteria to join the team.
Sti
Sticking to topic, do you know something about Carlos Spencer family? Thank you, Comrade.
Nah, not much. I think Carlos’ dad might be Graham Bailey Spencer from Levin, Horowhenua, NZ (1978 and 1981 census). This article mentions his dad: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10336724
This could be him: https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/graham-bailey-spencer
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0311/S00145/young-old-celebrate-maori-sports-awards.htm Here it says he’s Muaūpoko and Ngāti Kahungunu. That’s all.
Yeah, there isn’t much publicly known about him.