"Heke Bidois" by Colin Bidois (1995)

Hekenui Bidois

When Heke and family arrived at Te Whaiti in the winter of 1935, ½ dozen men were employed but this was one of the few areas where work was plentiful.

In the vicinity of the Urewera country there were at least 6 sawmills, numerous bush operations and the associated transport of logs, timber and products.

Also under the old Public Works Dept there was an extensive roading programme improving the highway thru the winding precipitous hills to Lake Waikaremoana. Several camps for roading gangs were established over 40 miles of road.

Farming was struggling to survive in places like Galatea, Murupara, Minginui and Ruatahuna.

All this added up to a population as rugged as the surrounding hills with a fair sprinkling of drunks, tough characters.

The territory of this sole “Sheriff of the Urewera” stretched from almost close to Lake Waikaremoana north to Rerewhakaaitu, from the village of Waiōhau to the western fringe of the Kāingaroa plains. One of the villages was accessible by an hour’s horse back ride only. Rotorua, the nearest town, was 1½ hours away, no electricity power and a single party line was the sole phone link with civilisation.

Despite this isolation and demanding challenge Heke was a “easy going” man because of the strength he drew from the fine Tūhoe Māori, “the children of the mist”, whom he came to love so well.

A constable’s wage in those times was meagre, so to augment supplies meant regular hunting trips for deer & pig. An outdoor life Heke had enjoyed since childhood in the western Kaimāī ranges, contrasting of wonderful Tōtara, rimu forest, beautiful fernery, streams & sports also helped sustain the family.

Heke was a man of physical strength & moral courage. Well known artist Rei Hamon records how Heke carried him 5 miles out of rugged bush. He would shoulder heavy Tōtara rafters up steep road side tracks when loading, passing the local record of 3½ hrs. During his 15 yrs in the Urewera Heke faced many precarious situations, disarming a crazed gunman, fronting a group of gamblers, confiscating the illegal brew of “moonshiners” needed operations in dangerous situations.

Through his knowledge of & respect for true Māori “love”, working in tandem with his administration of the Law, Heke was able to effect a balance of order & harmony in his territory which had the potential to be NZ’s Wild West.

In Mere Heke had the ideal partner. While Heke was reserved, she was boisterous, outgoing, always with a smile. Her skills with the old woodburning Orion range satisfied many a hungry person. Meals were provided for her husband over the years included a Prime Minister, Priests, Mayors, Communists, district nurses, stock-drovers and the odd “bum” who wandered in to calm down in the jail house for the night.

By listening to the tales of the hunters and the stories of the Tūhoeman Mere became family expert adviser, what trout fly, expenses to use, which pools were holding well, where the hunting good or where to back off for a while.

But Mere’s true strength was in her consistent support and encouragement for her husband in his difficult, challenging task in that rugged but beautiful heartland outpost.

A measure of Heke’s success is that in 15 yrs no more than half dozen had to be locked up in the Te Whaiti jail house. Not one of young people came before the Rotorua Court from the Urewera, they were dealt with on marae & in true whānau manner.

Colin Bidois
1995