Thousands attend tangi

Press, 6 April 1989, Page 6

Thousands attend tangi

PA Whangarei The paramount chief of the Ngapuhi, Sir Janies Henare, left Otiria marae for the last time early yesterday for burial in his family cemetery at Motatau.

Thousands of mourners from all over New Zealand and overseas paid their last respects to Sir James in the biggest tangi held in the region. Leaders and representatives from different organisations and cultures were at the marae at dawn for an emotional ceremony. Representatives of the . Western Samoan Government arrived at the marae during the interdenominational service.

More than 1000 people slept on the marae on Tuesday night and an estimated 9000 mourners attended yesterday’s events.

One of the first mourners to arrive in

the area after Sir James’ death was the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, who flew in by helicopter on Sunday. Other Government members and high-ranking officials arrived by a special Air Force flight on Tuesday. The Governor-General, Sir Paul Reeves, attended the ceremony and was among those to pay tribute to the man who led the Maori Battalion in World War 11.

Sir James died early on Sunday. He was placed alongside his wife’s cousin, Mr Vincent Kelly, aged 61, who died on Friday. Mr Kelly was buried on Tuesday after a funeral service on the marae.

The hakari or feast, to mark the end of the tangi was held at Otiria Marae on Tuesday. About 1000 workers representing all surrounding maraes worked with a small number of Army personnel to cater for thousands of visitors.