Kete Horowhenua

Christobel (known in later years as "Cuffie") Nation was the daughter of Isabella Grace (Prouse) Nation and her husband Charles Cecil Nation.  As both parents died relatively young (Grace in 1922 and Charles in 1926) Christobel went to live with her grandmother Christina ("Tina") McIllvride Prouse, wife of Richard Prouse iii. 

Tags: Prouse, Nation

The name "Christobel" came from a combination of her grandmother Christina and her mother's sister Mabel - hence, "Christobel".  The young girl was never able to say it properly, apparently, so eventually she was known as Cuffie, the way she said it.  The name stayed with her for all her life.

Annie Viten came from Latvia.  She was born 21 January 1908.  She spent pretty much all of her life working for the Richard and Christina Prouse family, doing all sorts of work about the Weraroa House and property.

One family story has it that she taught Christina how to spin wool - or it may have been the other way around! (I'll have to ask other members of the family).

When Christina was nearing 90 years of age, Annie did not want to be taking care of her, not wanting to see her in such a needy and helpless condition.  Another woman came in to care for Tina for those last few years.

Annie lived to be just over 96 years of age, dying on 6 February 2004.