Kia Ora Koutou

Mitai Kereti Simmonds is my dad, he was born February 1913 and passed away at Tokoroa Hospital July 1978 aged 65.

Upon hearing about this wonderful website I found dad's page and felt very aroha seeing it void of memories and so have decided to amend that by submitting some photo's that I know meant alot to my dad in the hope that they will be seen and enjoyed by the whanau of his many friends seen in these photo's.

Lastly to my very big whanau out there who knew and loved my dad please feel free to add any memories that you may have and together we will fill this page with all our aroha.

E whakawhetai ana ahau ki toku Atua i oku maharatanga katoa ki a koutou.

I was born 6 March 1947 at Arapuni, west of Putaruru, Waikato. I am a nephew to my uncle Mitai who was the eldest of nine (9) brothers and one (1) sister from Te Waotu, Pikitu Marae, Ngati Raukawa Iwi, Ngati Huri sub tribe. my Dad Pirirpi Phil was the second eldest who died when he was 59 years old. I, U544704 Owen Te-One Simmonds served in the New Zealand Army regular force Special Air Service (SAS) from May 1969 to May 1989 (20 years service) achieving the rank of Warrant Officer Class II. I served in South Vietnam from December 1969 to December 1970. I served also in the elections in the then Rhodesia now Zimbabwe South Africa, from December 1979- March 1980. Other countries I went during this time are Fiji, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Borneo, New Guinea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Cocos Is, Mauritius Is, South Africa, United Kingdom, Prague, Brunei, and Spain. I am now semi retired at the age of 64 a widow. I separated from my first wife nee Arohaina Gloria Ramanui, Had 3 children Paulette, Owen jnr, and Reuben. I have 5 Gran children, Peter, Luke, Lawrence, Isaac and Kayla. I remarried to Mareea Mitchell who passed away 12 November 2007. Nga mihi nga Rangatira toku tupuna o Tumatauenga, noreira, Nga mihi nui kia koutou katoa. Ma Te Atua koutou e manaaki i tenei wa. Date 7 July 2011.