31 March 2016

Māori Party mourns the loss of Rātana leader, Karaka Waka Paama

He aha te tohu o te ringaringa!
He kawakawa!
E tuku ki raro kia hope rā
E horo kia hō, te whakatau a te mate!

The Māori Party mourns the loss of senior Rātana Church member, Karaka Waka Paama, who died today at the age of 76.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his whānau and with the Rātana Church. We will fondly remember him as a humble man who was a devoted mōrehu. His kupu echo in my head, ’Kia mau ki ngā waihotanga o te māramatanga’. He lived his life following these words to retain the teachings of enlightenment,” says Māori Party Co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell.

“Karaka Waka Paama was a strong leader, who as a Rātana Church executive served under three Tumuaki: Te Reo Hura, Raniera Te Aohou Rātana and the current Tumuaki Harerangi Meihana. His knowledge and wisdom is a significant loss to the hāhi as well as te ao Māori,” says Māori Party Co-leader Marama Fox.

Te Ururoa Flavell says “We will cherish the memories we have of him as a kind man who looked after us during the annual pilgrimage to Rātana to celebrate the birthday of Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana. We will also miss how he never shied away from raising issues with politicians especially about treaty responsibilities and commitments to future generations.”

Moe mai rā e te rangatira.

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