Letters: Names have history

Contributed

by Coral Chalmers

In the movie, Ka Whawhai Tonu, it is stated that Hine-i-turama’s husband is an old Dutch man living in Whakatāne.

He was Danish, christened Hans Homman Jensen Falk, but changed his name to Philip Tapsell (Te Tapihana). Hine-i-turama was his third wife and together they had eight children.

The eldest, Katarina, married George Simpkins, the first white man to settle in Whakatāne. Their daughter married Scotsman John McAlister.

Simpkins and McAlister streets were named in their honour.

Support the journalism you love

Make a Donation