Hirini Whaanga Christy

Who is Hirini Whaanga Christy?

Hirini Whaanga Christy was a New Zealand Mormon leader, farmer, interpreter, community leader. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Rakaipaaka iwi. He was born in Nuhaka, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand on 16 August 1883. He was a great grandson of Ihaka Whaanga.

Christy emigrated to Utah Territory in 1894 with his extended family. Christy attended high school in Salt Lake City and later graduated from Latter-day Saints' University, where he was a star athlete. Christy was a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and married Kathleen Welsh in 1907.

In 1918, Christy and his family returned to New Zealand and settled in Nuhaka. While there, he became the first Māori to become a seventy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.