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He Aituā Dr Ihakara Porutu Puketapu

Deputy Māori Trustee, Greg Shaw, is saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Ihakara (Kara) Porutu Puketapu (Te Āti Awa), former Secretary of Māori Affairs, and Māori Trustee (1977-83).

Ko te reo tangi ka tukuna ki te whānau o Ihakara Puketapu, te kaiwhakatō i te kākano o te Kohanga Reo, te kaihauhake i ngā hua e rongo nei tātou i ēnei rā. 

E te rangatira, e te kaihautū, e te hautipua, haere ki tō moenga okioki atu ai. 

E kore koe e wareware noa. 

 

Deputy Māori Trustee, Greg Shaw, is saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Ihakara (Kara) Porutu Puketapu (Te Āti Awa), former Secretary of Māori Affairs, and Māori Trustee (1977-83).

On behalf of the Māori Trustee Dr Charlotte Severne, and the kaimahi of Te Tumu Paeroa, I’d like to offer our condolences to Ihakara’s whānau, iwi, hapū and uri as they mourn a great loss to Māoridom.

“Dr Puketapu will be remembered as a great leader, who played a significant role within the public sector, striving to empower Māori through self-determination and encouraging self-reliance.”  

“I acted for Kara and Waiwhetu marae in the mid-2000s as a Māori Land Court appointed lawyer on a few matters. Kara always gave me clear and exacting instructions. He was an endearing mix of charm, purposefulness, belligerence, passion, and intelligence.

He remained unfailingly warm and welcoming to me even when legal process became excruciating frustrating. Kara got things done. He was willing to ruffle a few feathers along the way. But that was always in service to his people and his beloved Waiwhetu whānau.”

Moe mai rā e te Rangatira

Other acknowledgements:

 

(Photo: NZ Herald)

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