TANGI AT TUAHIWI

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23884, 1 March 1943, Page 6

TANGI AT TUAHIWI

PRIME MINISTER’S PRAISE OF MAORI LEADER SYMPATHY FROM WAIKATO “Depart, O friend, depart into the soft-veiled shadows of spirit-land! Depart to thy ancestors, to thy people. Depart! Accept the sympathy of my colleagues and myself in the great loss you have sustained by the loss of your mother, whose fine work and active interest in the Maori effort have been greatly appreciated." The Prime Mimste ■ (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) telegraphed in Maori this message of sympathy on Saturday to Te Ari Pitama and the members of his family at Tuahiwi in the death of their mother, Mana Te Ripa Te Hauraraka Pitama. whose tangihanga was one of the largest seen near Christchurch for some years. , , The Minister in Charge of the Maori War Effort (the Hon. P. K. Paikea) m his message said; “Depart, O Mana, the hospitable woman! Tokerau (the NgaPuhi tribes) mourn with you in the sad less you have sustained through the demise of such a stalwart of the Morehu" (the Ratana Church). Messages were also received from King Koroki and Princess Te Puea Here ngi, of Waikato. The ancestral river, Waikato, said the Maori King, chanted a waiata of sorrow because of the pain that was in the hearts of Ngai-Tahu. The runangas (village councils) of Arowhenua (Temuka) and Arahura telegraphed their sympathy, also Te Waipounamu Maori Girls’ College, the CM Girls’ Association of the latter, the Ngati-Otautahi Baseball Club and Concert Party, Kura Tahiwi, representing Ngati-Raukawa, and other representative Maori families. As each party of visitors arrived at the marae of Okaihau, the home of the Pitama family, they were greeted with the ancient cries of sorrow from the home people, and the subsequent speeches were in keeping with the Maori tradition of oratory.

Wiremu Rehu, one of the Tuahiwi elders, when addressing the people, referred to a wreath of greenery, tied with the Maori colours of red and black, which had arrived from the Maori King. “This is the first occasion as far as I am aware,” he said, “that Waikato has shared the sorrow of NgaiTahu. We deeply appreciate the honour that they have paid to our departed one. To-day our sons are fighting overseas for a common cause. Let the tribes unite also for common ideals. It is only by cohesion that the race can be strengthened.”

The service at the home and at the urupa was conducted by Eruera Tihema Tirikatene, M.P., assisted by Wiremu Rehu. The member for Southern Maori is also an apotoro, or apostle, of the Ratana Church. Soldiers Form Guard of Honour A guard of honour of Maori soldiers in uniform was provided, several of whom were returned men from the present war, and they included:—Captain J. C. Tikao (representing NgatiIrakehu hapu), Lieutenant Tikao Barrett, M.C. (Ngati-Irakehu), Captain H. H. Pohio (Ngati-Tuahuriri), Sergeant Tuapaoa Whitau (Ngati-Tuahuriri and Ngati-Kimoeraki), Private A. Ryan (Ngati-Terangiamoa), Private Tumai Rehu (Ngati-Hinematua), Private Pat, Karaitiana (Ngati-Kahungunu), Corporal Arthur Paahi (Ngati-Tuahuriri). Private Edwards (Whanganui), Private Apa Croft (Ngati-Hinematua). Private G. Anstice, of Wairarapa, represented pakeha soldiers serving in the war, and also the Ngati-Otautahi Club. Speaking at the graveside Sergeant Whitau said that the wish to form a guard of honour had come from the soldiers themselves. “We desired to do this as a tribute to one who was the mother of soldiers,” he said. When offering the condolences of the village, the chairman (Mr W. D. Barrett) said that Mana Pitama was one of the outstanding women of NgaiTahu. “Hoani Waaka, her father, was one of the most able Maori advocates in the South Island,” he declared. “In his footsteps his daughter followed v rthily, upholding what was best in the culture of the race, and preserving until the end of her days an influence that was felt in all parts of this island among the Maori people. She had many friends among both races, and we in Tuahiwi mourn an acknowledged leader who will be sorely missed.” Replying on behalf of his family, Te Ari Pitama (who spoke both in Maori and in English), said that the sympathy received was deeply appreciated. “The greetings of the Prime Minister and the sympathy of King Koroki and Princess Te Puea.” he continued, "have touched us deeply and will not be forgotten. The knowledge that our loss has been shared by the people of both races has comforted our hearts at this time of sadness.”