Bub Wehi laid to rest at Waihirere

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

“A MIGHTY Totara has fallen”, this was one of many comments online as the news of Doctor Ngapo Wehi’s, QSM, passing spread this week.

Mr Wehi, or Bub as he is known, was a kapa haka legend, credited with bringing kapa haka into the mainstream. He passed away on Sunday and yesterday was laid to rest at Waihirere.

Hundreds of mourners came from all over the country to say their goodbyes to one of the most prolific figures in Maori performing arts.

Mr Wehi along with his wife Pimia, who passed away in 2011, led two champion kapa haka groups, Waihirere from Te Aitanga a Mahaki, and Te Waka Huia, based in Auckland.

They won six national kapa haka titles between these two groups, spanning from 1972 to 2013.

Earlier this week Te Whanau-a-Apanui, 2015 Te Matatini winners, handed over the Duncan McIntyre Memorial Trophy to Mr Wehi’s family.

Te Whanau-a-Apanui spokesperson Rawiri Waititi said they would be the last to hold the trophy.

“We have come here to give this taonga over to you.”

In true Wehi style mourners performed haka in his honour as part of his final farewell.