The River of the Water of Life

Crossing the treacherous Torres Strait in a small, double-hulled canoe, eating raw dugong meat and weathering violent storms, wasn't going to stop Māori missionary, Ike Samuels, from reaching the people of Papua New Guinea. Ike's father was Phillip Hamiora, commonly known as 'Weka' Phillip Samuel (born 1898). His mother was Papuwai Tanawhea. Ike's grandfather was Te Taiata Hamiora from Rukmoana while his grandmother Rititia, had links to Tūwharetoa in Taupō and to the Kāhui Ariki (the family of