I te ata nei, i takahi atu a Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po i te marae o Whangaehu ki te poroporoaki i te Māngai o Mua o te Whare Pāremata, i a Adrian Rurawhe. Koinei te waewae tapu tuatahi o te motu whānui ki te marae i muri i ngā whanaunga nō Whanganui nui tonu me Rangitīkei i te rā o inanahi.
I te ketunga mai o te tauira i waenga pō, i whakatika mai ngā tira tautoko o te Kīngitanga ki te tūhono atu ki te tauwhirotanga o te rangatira.
“Ka mutu ka pupū ake te puna o whakaaro ki a Adrian, ko ia tētehi i noho hei poupou mo Harerangi mā, ā, mō te Tumuaki o te Hā Rātana. Ka mutu i roto i ngā whiriwhiringa kōrero ka hoki aku whakaaro ki a Tommy mā, ki a rātou ngā poutokomanawa o te Hāhi,” hei tā te Māngai o te Kiingitanga, a Rāhui Papa.
“Ka mutu ko a māua mahi ko Parekura Horomia he kai burgers ki te taha o te whare mā o Rātana, arā ka noho ki reira ki te whakarongo ake ki ana kōrero, ka whakarongo ake ki ana whiriwhiri arā koirā tana taonga nui,” hei tāna anō.
Nā tēnei taenga mai o Te Arikinui me ngā rangatira o ngā iwi, kua tino tūwhera te ara ki te motu ki te tangi me te poroporoaki i te taonga nei i a Adrian Rurawhe.
Remembering Adrian Rurawhe: A legacy of humility and leadership at Whangaehu Marae
As the wider motu gathers to farewell former Speaker of the House Adrian Rurawhe at Whangaehu Marae, those who knew him best are reflecting on his unassuming nature, sharp intellect, and deep-rooted connections.
Following the historic arrival of the Kīngitanga and Ngāti Tūwharetoa, led by Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, reflections have poured in honouring Rurawhe’s life and legacy.
Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board Chief Executive Officer Rakeipoho Taiaroa fondly recalled Rurawhe’s down-to-earth demeanor and presence.
“Kia ora cuz, you know the normals, just see him at the Pā, o Kia ora cuz good to see you, that’s Adrian. Nothing else, nothing flash but he was always impeccably dressed,” Taiaroa shared.
Describing Rurawhe’s unique blend of humility and quiet authority, Taiaroa added:
“Hūmarie, hūmarie with regency, very quiet unassuming but however when he entered a room you always knew he was there, mō te hāhi tuatahi.”
With the path of farewell now officially opened by the arrival of the ariki and their people, communities from across the country continue to gather to mourn and pay their respects to a respected leader.