Rena Owen
Owen in 2007, photo by s_bukley/www.bigstockphoto.com
Birth Name: Maria Makarena Owen
Place of Birth: Bay of Islands, Northland, New Zealand
Date of Birth: 22 July, 1962
Ethnicity:
*father – Māori, some English, possibly Irish
*mother – Danish, French, English
Rena Owen is a New Zealand television, stage, and film actress. Her roles include the films Once Were Warriors and Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.
Rena is the daughter of Cynthia and “Ken John” Owen (born Kake Hoani Ringi Owen). Rena was raised Catholic in Moerewa, a small rural town in the North Island’s Bay of Islands.
Rena’s father had Māori (from the Ngati Hine iwi), as well as some English, and possibly Irish, ancestry. Through her father, Rena is a descendant of a prominent Māori chief, Te Ruki Kawiti. Rena’s mother is white, and was born in Auckland, New Zealand, of Danish, French, and English descent.
Rena’s paternal grandfather was Arthur Owen (the son of Arthur Owen and Ngawai Amiria Te Taka). Rena’s grandfather Arthur was born in Auckland, New Zealand. Rena’s great-grandfather Arthur was English, from Helpringham, Lincolnshire, and was the son of William Dentcliffe Owen and Louisa Lambden. Ngawai was born in Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand, the daughter of Amato and Maretiana, and was Māori.
Rena’s paternal grandmother was Upa Kingi (the daughter of Hemi Tonoriri Hoori Kingi and Ngaro Akinihi Hone Paraone). Upa was born in Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Hemi was the son of Hori Kingi Tahua, who was Māori, and of Kataraina Wharenikau, who had an European father, likely Irish, and a Māori mother. Ngaro was the daughter of Hone Paraone, who was Māori, and of Riria Heeni Shortland/Kawiti. Riria’s father, Rena’s great-great-great-grandfather, was Commander Willoughby Shortland, RN, a British naval officer and colonial administrator, who was the first Colonial Secretary of New Zealand, from 3 May, 1841 to 31 December, 1843. Riria’s mother was Tuwahinenui Waekamania Kawiti, who was Māori.
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Rena is the daughter of Cynthia Margaret and Kake Hoani Ringi “Ken John” Owen.
Rena’s mother is said to have Danish, French, and English ancestry.
Rena’s paternal grandfather was Arthur Owen (the son of Arthur Owen and Ngawai Amiria Te Kaka). Arthur was born in Auckland, New Zealand. Rena’s great-grandfather Arthur was English, from Helpringham, Lincolnshire, and was the son of William Dentcliffe Owen and Louisa Lambden. Ngawai was the daughter of Amato and Maretiana, and was of Māori background (from Whangarei, Northland).
Rena’s paternal grandmother was Upa Kingi (the daughter of Hemi Tonoriri Hoori Kingi e Ngaro Akinihi Hone). Upa was born in Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Hemi was the son of Hori Kingi Tahua, who was Māori, and of Kataraina Wharenikau, who had an European father (likely Irish) and a Māori mother. Ngaro was the daughter of Hone Paraone, who was Māori, and of Riria Heeni Shortland Kawiti, who was half English and half Māori. Riria’s father was Commander Willoughby Shortland, a a British naval officer and colonial administrator, who was New Zealand’s first Colonial Secretary from 1841, among other duties.
tag “Ngāti Hine”
https://www.geni.com/people/Rena-Owen/6000000068046235848