Wiremu Herewini

Kaea, Issue 2, 1 March 1980, Page 7

Wiremu Herewini

W. Sheldon, a noted American social scientist, postulated a theory of “somatic types”, in which he categorised three general groups of human beings in relation to their physical structure and personality. Accordingly the ectomorphic type has, to use a Shakespearean phrase, “a lean and hungry look”, and is inclined to studiousness and intellectual pursuits. The mesomorphic group are muscular in build and tend to look towards physical activity for their pleasures. Third are the endomorphs: rather chubby and rotund in appearance, they are considered to be genial, happy-go-lucky people with a talent for forming warm and lasting relationships and with a genuine concern for others.

Such a person is Bill Herewini, whom it is my pleasure to have served under and with for more than twenty years until his retirement at the end of last year.

During his term as Controller of Maori Welfare for the Department of Maori Affairs, he was a familiar figure on the many marae in the Mataatua and Te Arawa territories mai i Tikirau ki Nga Kuri a Wharei and mai i Maketu ki Tongariro. The late 1950 s saw him actively campaigning for Maori committees to modernise their marae by utilising government subsidies available under the Maori Social and Economic Advancement Act.

The drive to promote and improve housing conditions, educational qualifications and career occupations for the Maori was the main thrust of his energies in the 1960 s and 19705. An ability to see latent qualities of leadership in people at “flax-roots” level caused him to encourage them to take up official positions not only with Maori organisations but also in local body affairs and service organisations.

It has been said of him that, particularly over the latter years prior to his retirement, Bill was a “professional committee meeting attender”. He was a member of twenty or more committees which met regularly in Wellington. It was perhaps in this area that he made his greatest contribution sitting across the table with the policymakers of Health, Justice, Education and many other government departments, as well as national voluntary organisations. To the Maori people in both urban and rural areas, much of this work and the contribution Bill made at these meetings has gone largely unsung and unnoticed.

It was pleasing, therefore, to see the large numbers of people, attending as individuals or as representatives of their groups and organisations, who gathered at Ngati Poneke to pay tribute to his endeavours and achievements in helping to develop a society with mutual respect and understanding. His attitude to people whether young or old, whether high and mighty or like the rest of us was always consistent: courteous and humble, with a liberal lacing of understanding and humour.

No reira, e te Rangatira e Wi, koi anei te mihi atu ki a koe me to hoa Rangatira mete whanau hoki.

WISHIE JARAM