Turia saddened by death of Taranaki leader

Kua tau te hukapapa makariri, kua iri mai nga kapua pouri ki runga o te Maunga titohea.
Ka pa mai te reo tangi o nga iwi o Taranaki e aue ana ki ta ratou koroheke, tama, ki Te Miringa Hohaia, kua mate ohorere i te ata nei.
Ka tangi hoki te Ropu Maori i te hinganga o Te Miringa, mokopuna o Parihaka, kaipupuri i te mauri o Te Whiti o Rongomai raua ko Tohu Kakahi, he toa ki te kokiri i nga kaupapa Maori, he tangata pumau ki te mana o ona iwi.

Maori Party co-leader and MP for Te Tai Hauauru Tariana Turia expressed her shock and deep sorrow at the sudden death today of Te Miringa Hohaia – a caretaker and guardian of Parihaka and staunch advocate of kaupapa Maori in many fields.

“Today the rain falls on Maunga Taranaki, today we have lost a great man, a musician, an activist and historian who lived for his people,” Mrs Turia said.

“This is a terrible loss for the people of Taranaki and the nation. Te Miringa was quite a young man, though his wisdom and depth of experience belied his years.

“We expected to enjoy his advice and guidance for years to come, and to lose him now is such a tragedy.

“Te Miringa achieved a lot in his life but I will especially remember his work in helping to keep the story of Parihaka and the tribe’s traditional waiata and poi alive.”

Te Miringa led so many aspects of Maori life in Taranaki. He was involved in the Motunui claim to the Waitangi Tribunal in 1978, which changed the course of history for the tribunal, and for claimants from every iwi who followed on. He also helped to drive through the complex Taranaki land claims, with special reference to the pivotal role of Parihaka in the history of Taranaki.

“Te Miringa had a spiritual aspect that ideally suited him to the role of Kaitiaki o te Paepae o Te Raukura, the meeting house at Parihaka.”

He was also an advocate for the arts. He curated the exhibition ‘Parihaka: The Art of Passive Resistance’ and in 2005 he helped establish the Parihaka Peace Festival which has become a genuinely international annual celebration of the heritage of Taranaki.

“It was social justice that framed Te Miringa’s approach to issues, whether counselling programmes for prisoners, or Treaty education for government departments. So it seems unjust that he should have been taken from us.

“Our thoughts go out to his whanau, and the many iwi and community groups Te Miringa was involved in, who will feel his loss so keenly,” Mrs Turia said.

ENDS

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