Rangi Ruru Wananga Karaitiana

Rangi Karaitiana (Rangitāne, Ngāti Kahungunu) of D Company embarked with the Main Body in 1940.  Rangi also known as Ruru was a private with the Battalion.  He was hospitalised several times before being discharged as physically unfit. 

Ruru is well known for composing the chart topping song ‘Blue Smoke'.  It was inspired and written during his journey on the troopship Aquitania in 1940.  The ship was off the coast of Africa and a friend drew his attention to passing smoke.  He performed the song for a concert aboard the ship.  After the war the song was recorded with singer Pixie Williams.  The song topped New Zealand radio hit parades for six weeks and sold more than 20,0000 copies within a year.  It attracted strong oveseas interest and was covered by many singers including Dean Martin.[1]

Ruru married after the war, initially settling in Dunedin, his hometown of Tahoraiti and then finally in Woodville.  He and his wife had a son and adopted two girls; they had many other whāngai children.

Ruru passed away on 15 December 1970 in Wellington and was laid to rest at Tahoraiti.

Read more about Ruru Karaitiana in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.

Footnote

[1] Gordon Spittle. 'Karaitiana, Rangi Ruru Wananga - Biography', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 1-Sep-10 URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/5k3/1

 

 

Reference:

Family Collection.
Courtesy of Karla Karaitiana.

Submitter:
Submitted by mbadmin on

Comments (0)