Maori Party farewells Ngati Porou matriarch
The Hon Tariana Turia & The Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Co-Leaders, Maori Party
20 October 2009
Maori Party farewells Ngati Porou matriarch
E to, e te ra, e to ki to rua!
The Maori Party today farewelled Mate Huatahi Kaiwai – daughter of the legendary Ngati Porou and Maori leader Apirana Ngata.
“Mate was an extremely strong
advocate for whanau and encouraged our young to pursue
education,” Tariana Turia said.
“In the area of health this quiet, humble and wise kuia played a significant role advising the regional health authority on things Maori.
“One of the last pleasures I have of Mate was a waiata she gave me when I left Labour. It is a waiata I will treasure for ever,” she said.
Dr Sharples said Mate’s passing was a loss to all Maori, Ngati Porou and the Maori Party.
“We will miss seeing Aunty Mate’s face in our Maori Party hui on the coast,” he said.
“I absolutely agree with Erima Henare’s statement that Mate is the ‘living expression of one of the proverbs coined by her father – educate a man and you educate a man, education a woman and you educate a generation,’” Dr Sharples said.
Mate was named Te Whetū o Te Tau or star of the year at the Matariki Star Awards in 2007 for inspiring and teachning many generations of Maori speakers. She taught te reo Maori right up until she was 86-years-old.
End