Chris Korte's New Zealand Genealogy Project
Frederick William KORTE [Fred]
1883 - 1964 (81 years)
Has 8 ancestors and 80 descendants in this family tree.-
Name Frederick William KORTE Known As Fred Birth 30 Mar 1883 Kiwitea, Manawatu, New Zealand 
[1, 2] Gender Male Education 10 Apr 1893 [3, 4] Awatuna School, Taranaki, New Zealand Residence From 1902 to 1947 Matawai, Gisborne, New Zealand [5] Possessions 15 Aug 1913 [6] Leased Ruanui Station, Matawai, Gisborne Occupation 1918 [5, 7] Sheep Farmer, Matawai Residence From 1947 to 1964 Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand [5] Death 04 May 1964 Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand [8, 9, 10] Burial 08 May 1964 Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand [11, 12] Probate 26 May 1964 Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand [13] Person ID I43 NZ Genealogy Project | KORTE Descendant Last Modified 7 Feb 2019
Father Johann Heinrich Friedrich Christoph KORTE [Christoph], b. 21 Oct 1848, Sprakensehl, Lower Saxony, Germany d. 13 Sep 1905, Awatuna, Taranaki, New Zealand (Age 56 years) Mother Maria Louisa Frederika ROGGENKAMP, b. 1851, Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany d. 04 Oct 1889, Waimate Plains, Taranaki, New Zealand (Age 38 years) Residence From 1875 to 1880 Upper Moutere, Nelson, New Zealand Marriage 22 Jan 1875 Upper Moutere, Nelson, New Zealand [14, 15, 16] Residence From 1880 to 1889 Beaconsfield, Manawatu, New Zealand [17] Documents 
Documents (Log in) Family ID F15 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Elizabeth Mary REDPATH [Lizzie], b. 02 Sep 1890, Tuapeka West, Otago, New Zealand d. 08 Mar 1961, Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand (Age 70 years) Marriage 12 Feb 1913 Rakauroa, Gisborne, New Zealand [18, 19, 20] Children + 1. George Christopher KORTE, b. 25 Oct 1914, Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand d. 09 Nov 1989, Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand (Age 75 years)+ 2. Henry Thomas KORTE [Harry], b. 06 Aug 1918, Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand d. 19 Jul 2000, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand (Age 81 years)+ 3. Alice Freda KORTE [Allie], b. 03 Jun 1920, Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand d. 09 Jun 2005, Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand (Age 85 years)+ 4. Joyce Elizabeth KORTE [Joy], b. 14 Feb 1930, Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand d. 26 Oct 1998, Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand (Age 68 years)Family ID F11 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 31 Dec 2024
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Event Map 
Birth - 30 Mar 1883 - Kiwitea, Manawatu, New Zealand 
Residence - From 1902 to 1947 - Matawai, Gisborne, New Zealand 
Marriage - 12 Feb 1913 - Rakauroa, Gisborne, New Zealand 
Residence - From 1947 to 1964 - Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand 
Death - 04 May 1964 - Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand Burial - 08 May 1964 - Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand Probate - 26 May 1964 - Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand = Link to Google Earth Pin Legend 
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
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Headstones (Log in)
Histories 
Histories (Log in) 
History of Awatuna, New Zealand
Information on the history of Awatuna in South Taranaki, New Zealand. Christoph Korte and his family were among the early settlers in Awatuna. He obtained 90 ha of Awatuna bush in 1886.
At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
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Albums 
Albums (Log in)
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Notes BIOGRAPHY
Frederick William Korte, known as Fred, the youngest son of Christopher and Mary Korte, was born in 1883 at Kiwitea in the Manawatu. Fred attended Awatuna School after his father obtained land there and the family moved to Taranaki. Fred's father wanted more land so his sons could farm, the farm at Awatuna being only big enough to support one family. In 1902 Fred's father leased a 965 acre bush block at Matawai, inland from Gisborne. For similar reasons, the Bulst family and Mortleman family sold their Taranaki farms and moved to Gisborne, also obtaining land at Matawai.
Fred and his brothers, Henry and Christopher, moved to Matawai, near Gisborne in 1903. They started clearing the land, constructed a small single roomed building to live in, and started farming. The lease was transferred to the three brothers in 1905, and to Christopher and Fred in 1913. Henry had returned to the Awatuna farm after his father died. Christopher and Fred developed the Matawai farm they called Ruanui and built a cottage each.
Details of the Matawai farm, called Ruanui, can be seen on separate web page.
In 1913 Fred married Elizabeth Redpath from Rakauroa, a short ride through the bush (approximately 10 km). Elizabeth Redpath was the first school teacher at Matawai School and also taught at Rakauroa School. There was a large fire in Matawai on the day that Fred and Elizabeth married (see Matawai bush fires). The fire threatened to burn down Fred's newly constructed cottage, but it was saved by Fred's brothers who were unable to attend the wedding.
Elizabeth and Fred had four children. During the First World War, Fred and Elizabeth moved to Rakauroa and lived at Waimarie with Elizabeth's mother. Fred managed her farm while Elizabeth's brothers were overseas. The Korte family returned to Ruanui at Matawai 1918. During the depression, due to the severely depressed farm produce prices, the family moved into Matawai where Fred worked for Hensen and Green at Rahiri, while Chris Korte continued to farm Ruanui. When prices improved the family moved back to Ruanui.
Fred was a quiet man and walked with a limp, a result of a stiff knee that was injured in an accident when felling bush. Marian Cameron, his niece, told the story of returning home to Ormond by car in the 1940's with Fred after staying at Ruanui. He drove slowly and carefully on the then narrow and winding metaled road, requiring a stop for a cigarette part way to Ormond.
After the Second World War the Matawai farm was purchased by George Korte, Fred's eldest son, and Fred and Elizabeth retired to Gisborne. Elizabeth died in 1961 and was buried in Gisborne. Fred then sold his house in Gisborne and stayed with his children, moving periodically between them. He died in Wellington in 1964 and was buried with Elizabeth in Gisborne.
FAREWELL TO MR. AND MRS. F. W. KORTE
MATAWAI NEWS
(Herald Special Service)
Although Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Korte had already acquired a town house, at the request of their old neighbours and Matawai friends they returned last week-end for a farewell party.
Mr. and Mrs. Korte have endeared themselves to a large circle of friends in the many years of their farming in this district.
Mr. and Mrs. Korte were staunch supporters of the Presbyterian Church, and until the members of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union disbanded Mrs. Korte was a regular supporter of that body. Their son George who is to be married at Te Aroha in January, will carry on the farm.
Mr. Korte sen., was a very active member too of the Farmers' Federation Saleyards Company and was always on hand to assist the ladies of the Women's Division of Federated Farmers' with a good supply of kindling and wood for their tea-room.
Mr. and Mrs. Korte were staunch friends particularly of their own generation and their children have prospered in whatever occupation they have decided to take up. Their one single daughter will live with them at Kaiti.
Last Thursday evening, the Matawai W.I. Hall was filled with a large attendance of friends, including Major Riddick and the earlier settlers and their wives, who weathered the pioneering days in this and the Rakauroa districts.
Mrs. W. Mortleman, who arranged a short card tournament as an entertainment, invited Mrs. A. E. Gibson, who had attended the same primary school at Matawhero, with the senior members of the Redpath family, to make the presentation, which was a bedside light.
Mr. F. W. Korte was the recipient of a fountain pen from the members of the Matawai Bowling Club.
Source: Gisborne Herald, 28 December 1950, page 7.
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Sources 
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