Chapter 21: 

James Rupuha Elers (1906-1977)

The family of James Rupuha Elers and Whanaupani Himona

The family of James Rupuha Elers and Helen Adele Tauwhare

The life of James Rupuha Elers

James Rupuha Elers was born to his 16 year old mother Elizabeth Matangihau Elers and his father George Henry “Harry” Waite on 3 August 1906.

• James’ birth record above (in Find A Grave), and his death certificate (later in this chapter), cites his place of birth as Masterton.

• However, the electoral roll of 1905-06 shows Matangihau’s parents Carew and Meri had relocated from Masterton to Hardinge Road Napier. One can only assume that this move was to ensure they could support their daughter.

• So it would be logical to assume that James could perhaps have been born in Napier where Matangihau had been attending Hukarere School (see the school roll in Interlude 7 – Who Was James Rupuha Elers’ Father?)

• Furthermore, the 1908 electoral roll shows they were still living in Napier.

• It was intended that James would be adopted by his aunt Manini and husband Rupuha Te Hianga as she was seemingly unable to have children. However at the time when the adoption was to take place, Manini fell pregnant with her own child, so the deal fell through.

• Matangihau died when James was only eight years old, so he was brought up by his grandparents, Carew and Meri.

• James married Whanaupani Himona in 1927

• Whanaupani (born in July 1902) was the youngest of five children born to Arapata Himona and his wife Wirapeti (Mikaera) Himona.

• When Whanaupani died on 10 July 1938, aged only thirty six, she and James were the parents of eight children. 

• She died from childbirth complications whilst birthing her eighth child.

• After her death all eight children, except their eldest child James jnr, (Jimbo) moved into the house (below) opposite the meeting house in Bideford Road, owned by Arapata and Wirapeti (as per an article written by Pani Himona for the 2008 Elers Family Reunion booklet). 

• The 1943 electoral roll showed James was still living at Te Ore Ore.

• The 1949 electoral roll shows that James had moved into the Masterton township and was living at 138 Colombo Road (photo below).

• Whilst living at Colombo Road, James became a breeder of great dane dogs.  At this time he worked at the local freezing works.

• The following article was written by James’ son John, for the 2008 Elers Family Reunion booklet:

• James moved to Feilding during the 1950’s where he continued with his dog breeding hobby.

• His hobby grew quite large to the extent that he took in private owners’ pets as boarders, presumably to supplement his income.

• He imported a prized brindle coloured great dane. He named him Banda, and he did very well at the AMP dog shows around the North Island. He also imported two Harlequin great danes from England. They also did well at shows.

• The photo above is taken the day after the wedding of Aritaku Maaka and Louise Matangihau Elers, at the homestead of Aritaku’s parents in Takapau, Central Hawkes Bay. Whanaupani is back row sixth from right, holding her fifth child Gracie. James is seated on the left in the front row.

• Three years after the death of Whanaupani in 1938, James married Helen Adele Tauwhare in 1941.

• Helen was the widow of Piripi Hori Tauwhare (died 24 October 1935 in Masterton).

• Helen was born on 27 June 1918 in Arahura, West Coast, to Piripi Whitu Tauwhare and his wife Adele Helen Georgine (Lemcke) Tauwhare.

• Helen brought to her marriage to James Elers, a son named Reginald Rush George Tauwhare.

Between the year of their marriage in 1941 and Helen’s death in 1956, James and Helen had parented twelve children (refer to their progeny later in this chapter).

The deaths of Whanaupani, Helen, and James:

1. Whanaupani:

• The following obituary was posted on page 6 in the Wairarapa Times-Age on 11 July:

• On the same night the funeral notice was posted:

• Then finally on page 4 of the Wairarapa Times-Age on 18 July 1938, the following notification was posted

• Whanaupani was buried at Ahipanepane urupā, Masterton.

2. Helen:

• Helen’s death certificate below shows at the time of her passing on 1 December 1956, Helen and James were living at 17 Sandilands Street, Feilding.

• She died of a coronary occlusion and had been suffering from angina pectoris.

• Helen was buried on 3 December 1956 at Feilding Cemetery, in Block 2, Row 108, Plot Number 458A.

3. James:

• James died on 18 July 1977 at Palmerston North Hospital.

• The following death notice was posted in the local newspaper (date unknown). All twenty of his children are listed.

• His death certificate shows that he was a freezing worker and that he lived in Flat 3, Queen Street, Feilding.

• Cause of death was a cardiac attack, and he had been suffering from atherosclerosis and diabetes.

• James was buried on 20 July 1977 in Feilding Cemetery alongside his wife Helen in Block 2, Row 108, Plot number 458A.

• In later years, the headstone of Helen’s sister, Hira, was added to the plot.

• Back row from left: Samuel (Jock), Mark, Phillip.

• Second row from left: Pani, Michael, Bill, John

• Third row from left: Gracie, Tom

• Front row from left: Beverly, Sharnette, Helen, Nita, Tangi, Christine, Jean, Reggie (absent: James (Jimbo), Steven, and Pamela).

Progeny of James Rupuha Elers and his first wife Whanaupani:

• Following copies of birth records were sourced from the NZ Department Of Internal Affairs – Births, Deaths, and Marriages.

Progeny of James Rupuha Elers and his second wife Helen:

• Following copies of birth records were sourced from the NZ Department Of Internal Affairs – Births, Deaths, and Marriages.

• The birth certificate shows that Ruth Barbara Elers was born on 23 November 1946.

• Column 10 shows that on 31 October 1947, Helen signed off a change to Nita Ruth Barbara Elers.