Ruatoka (1846? – 12 September 1903) was a Protestant Christian missionary in British New Guinea (now

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

). The son of Christian converts, he was born in Tamarua,

Mangaia Mangaia (traditionally known as A'ua'u Enua, which means ''terraced'') is the most southerly of the Cook Islands and the second largest, after Rarotonga. It is a roughly circular island, with an area of , from Rarotonga. Originally heavily popula ...

Island,

Cook Islands ) , image_map = Cook Islands on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , capital = Avarua , coordinates = , largest_city = Avarua , official_languages = , langu ...

. In about 1868 he attended

Takamoa Theological College Takamoa Theological College is a Bible school located in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. It was founded by the noted Congregationalist missionary Aaron Buzacott (1800-1864). It offers a Diploma of Theology and a Certificate of Bible Studies. The college ...

Rarotonga Rarotonga is the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands. The island is volcanic, with an area of , and is home to almost 75% of the country's population, with 13,007 of a total population of 17,434. The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings a ...

, then under James Chalmers. He was one of six Polynesians chosen to convert New Guinea, and with his wife, Tungane, landed at Manumanu on the coast of Papua in November 1872. In February 1873 they left due to fever. Five months later Ruatoka and three colleagues sailed for

Port Moresby (; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New ...

, where he remained until his death. As well as being a successful evangelist, he served as a guide, interpreter and advisor to the English missionaries. He was also noted for his work as a mediator in land disputes. His name is commemorated by Ruatoka Road, Port Moresby, and Ruatoka College, Rigo, Papua. His portrait appears on a 1972 Papua New Guinea postage stamp. Ruatoka and his wife taught the locals of Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands dancing and songs; more than 100 years later "Aito Pakapaka" was sung by Moses Tau and Te Marama which is sung by the People of Ruatoka.

Sources and external links

*''Australian Dictionary of Biography: Ruatoka'

Biography

Joyce Reason Joyce Reason (December 1894 - 18 September 1974) was a British author of missionary biographies and historical fiction for young readers.''Who Was Who Among English and European Authors, 1931-1949'', Vol. 3, Gale Research Co., Detroit, 1978, p.11 ...

, ''Take My Life: Ruatoka of Papua''. London: Edinburgh House Press, 1947 {{DEFAULTSORT:Ruatoka Congregationalist missionaries in Papua New Guinea Cook Island Māori people 1846 births 1903 deaths Cook Island Congregationalist missionaries Cook Island expatriates in Papua New Guinea