Tommy Solomon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tommy Solomon
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| Born |
Tame Horomona Rehe
7 May 1884 |
| Died | 19 March 1933 (aged 48) |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Known for | Being the last full-blooded Moriori |
Tame Horomona Rehe, also known as Tommy Solomon, was a very important person in the history of the Moriori people. He was born on May 7, 1884, and passed away on March 19, 1933. Many people believe he was the last Moriori person with only Moriori ancestors. The Moriori are the first people who lived on the Chatham Islands, a group of islands far out in the Pacific Ocean.
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Growing Up on the Chatham Islands
Tommy Solomon was born in a place called Waikaripi. This was on the Chatham Islands. He grew up on a special area set aside for the Moriori people. This area was near Manukau Point. When he was young, his mother passed away in 1903. Because he was still quite young, his father took care of his mother's land.
Tommy Solomon: A Successful Farmer
In 1903, Tommy Solomon got married. His wife was Ada Fowler, from the Kāi Tahu iwi (tribe). He started to learn how to be a sheep farmer. First, he farmed on land he rented. Later, he farmed on his family's land. This farm grew bigger over time. Other Moriori people passed away, and their land became part of his farm.
In 1915, both his father and his first wife died. By then, Tommy was managing a large farm. He had about 7,000 sheep and many cattle. In 1916, he married again. His second wife was Whakarawa, who was his first wife's niece. They had five children together. During the 1920s, Tommy became very well-known. He was one of the most successful farmers on the Chatham Islands.
He was also active in the community. He took part in social and political events. People respected him for being generous and for helping people get along. But he was most famous for being known as the "last full-blooded Moriori."
His Family and Moriori Heritage
Tommy Solomon's children were considered to be of mixed heritage. This is because his wife, Ada, was from the Kāi Tahu tribe, which is a Māori tribe from the South Island of New Zealand.
Today, experts understand that the Moriori people are a special cultural group. They are not seen as a different "race" of people. Instead, they are thought to be a unique branch of an early Māori group. This group came from the South Island. This idea is supported by how similar the Moriori language is to the language spoken by southern Māori.
Many people today have some Moriori ancestors. They live both on the Chatham Islands and in mainland New Zealand. The Moriori culture is still very much alive.
Remembering Tommy Solomon
Tommy Horomona Rehe passed away in 1933. He died because of pneumonia and heart problems. His friend George Tuuta's son, Whati Tuuta, built his coffin.
In 1986, a special statue was made to honor him. You can find this statue at Manukau. It is close to where his farm used to be. Tommy's grandson, Maui Solomon, is now an important leader. He is the vice-chairman of the Hokotehi Moriori Trust. This trust works to protect and share Moriori culture and history.
