Pa George Karika (1 August 1893 – 5 May 1949) was a New Zealand- Cook Islands leader, clerk, soldier and farmer. Decorated for gallantry during the First World War, he was the only Cook Islander awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. From 1942 until his death in 1949 he was the holder of the ''Makea Karika Ariki'' title, one of the three chiefly titles of the Te Au o Tonga ''vaka'' on

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 ...

. Karika was born in

Avarua Avarua (meaning "Two Harbours" in Cook Islands Māori) is a town and district in the north of the island of Rarotonga, and is the national capital of the Cook Islands. The town is served by Rarotonga International Airport (IATA Airport Code: R ...

, Cook Islands on 1 August 1893. He was the son of Takau Tuaraupoko Mokoroa ki Aitu, later ''Makea Karika Ariki''. He was educated at

Tereora College Tereora College is a secondary school in Nikao, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. It is the oldest secondary school in the Cook Islands and the national college of the Cook Islands for Year 9-13 students. The school was first established in 1895 by the ...

, then run by the London Missionary Society. On 14 July 1915 he married Ngapoko Ariki o Tangiia. In 1916, when working for the Union Steamship Company, he volunteered for the Māori Reinforcements and became one of 500 Cook Islanders who joined the

New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

. He was initially stationed with the New Zealand Rarotongan Company in El Qantara, Egypt, and in early 1917 was promoted to

Sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...

. In late 1917 he participated in the Battle of Jerusalem, and in February 1918 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while in command of a platoon". He was the only Pacific islander in the NZEF to receive this decoration Karika was hospitalised for tuberculosis in late 1918 and returned to New Zealand. He was discharged from the army in 1919 and returned to Rarotonga, where he became a farmer. Like other Cook Island veterans, he was denied a military pension. In 1942 he inherited the title of ''Makea Karika Ariki'' from his mother and was appointed to the

Rarotonga Island Council 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 ...

. He held this title until his death in 1949, when he was succeeded by his daughter,

Margaret Makea Karika Ariki Dame Margaret Makea Karika Ariki (12 December 1919 – 22 September 2017), also known as Pauline Margaret Rakera George Karika and Pauline Margaret Rakera Taripo, was a Cook Islands ''ariki'' and holder of the ''Makea Karika Ariki'' title from ...

References

1893 births 1949 deaths 20th-century New Zealand farmers Cook Island farmers New Zealand Māori farmers New Zealand military personnel People from Rarotonga Royalty of the Cook Islands {{CookIslands-bio-stub