The Māori Party mourns the loss of a great orator and tribal leader from the North

E te rangatira, e te reo o ngā tūpuna, e te kaiārahi o ngā uri whakatipu: Ērima takoto mai, takoto mai takoto mai!

Me pēnei te kōrero, tukuna rātou kia okioki i runga i te moenga roa. Āpiti hono, tātai hono, ko te akaaka o te rangi ki a rātou; āpiti hono, tātai hono, ko te akaaka o te whenua ki a tātou te hunga ora.

E te taonga a te mate, takahia atu rā te ara whānui a tane, whakangaro atu rā ki te pō e, moe mai rā.

Māori Party Co-leaders, Marama Fox and Te Ururoa Flavell, have today expressed their deep sadness at the sudden passing of a statesman and tribal leader, Ērima Henare of Te Aupōuri, Ngāi Takoto, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahungungu, Te Ātiawa, Tainui, Tūwharetoa, Rongowhakaata, and Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki.

“Ērima came from a distinguished whakapapa which he carried with great pride into every realm in which he shared his considerable knowledge and expertise” said Co-leader, Te Ururoa Flavell.

“Just nine months ago, he held the floor at Tau Henare Marae at Pipiwai, articulating the learnings from a shared history tracing back over two centuries of contact between tangata whenua and Pākehā.

“His deep understanding of te reo and tikanga Māori, was infused with the inspiration of his father, Tā Hemi Henare, and the legacy passed through the lineage of leadership associated with the descendants of Cherrington, Paerata, Subritzky, Henare, Peeni, Wynyard, Rahiri, Hineamaru, Kawiti, Patuone, Tamati Waka Nene and Hone Heke.

“This legacy was incredibly important to Ērima. He was determined to uphold the mana of those before him, through his lifelong contribution to advancing te reo through education and public service organisations like Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori” said Mr Flavell.

“We see now, through his son Peeni, just how significant that heritage is in providing a solid foundation of leadership” said Maori Party co-leader, Marama Fox.

“Peeni is carrying on the tradition left by Ērima’s grandfather, Tau Henare, Member of Parliament for Northern Māori from 1914 to 1938”.

“We will miss his powerful oratory; those smiley eyes; that gleeful chuckle and the unswerving dedication to the kaupapa,” says Mrs Fox.

The Māori Party extends its condolences to the Henare whānau, Ngāti Hine and the many people who have had their lives influenced by this great leader.

ends

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