A lady for our time

E tangi ana ki te Kahui Ariki katoa. E tangi ana ki a koe e kara, e Whatu e ...

Kei taku Ariki, haere atu ra koe ki te po. Takahi atu ra koe i te ara whanui a Tane. E hoki koe ki te wahi ngaro. Waiho iho ko au ohaki hei whakakaupapa ma matou. Tena koe e te piki kotuku, e te puiaki o te wa. Tena koe e te kaihiki i te manawa tapu o to iwi Maori. He tohu koe mai nehe, he wai aroha no nga tupuna. Haere, oti atu ai e Aue!

Mauriora ki a tatou, ki nga mahuetanga mai. Heoi. Pai marire.

The Waikato River that passes by my Ngaruawahia home will soon usher the earthly remains of the rangatira we affectionately know as "The Lady" to her final resting place. Her people will be by her side. By water and by land they will go to Taupiri. And when the soil of that modest mountain reclaims our Lady, the winds of change will begin to blow.

At this very moment, wise heads are gathering and debating about who will next reign over us. I am grateful that our Maori royalty was not born of a show of brute military force, but because of a consensus of considered opinion. As it was in 1858, the best of the Maori world will decide what is best for the Maori world.

During this year's magnificent coronation celebrations, I watched Te Atairangikahu address the people. She was so frail, yet so typically beautiful and wise. I thought the thought that I didn't want to think - that we were all witnesses to the end of an era.

And what an era it's been. It started in 1966 when the urban migration of our people to the cities was in full flight. It was a time when the look, sound, and feel of being Maori was in danger of loss by assimilation. But it was also a period in our history when the seeds of our resurgence were being sown. For four decades Te Atairangikahu was at the epicentre of every major Maori initiative and pursuit of our brown well-being. We now end the era as a vibrant people of culture and consequence. We are well equipped to face the challenges of the next.

For most of us in the Maori world we have known no other equivalent royalty: no other national leader of such indisputable rank. We were safe in the pedigree of her whakapapa. She was a living example of the very best of our DNA. There was the full knowledge that cultural integrity and benevolent power underscored all that she did. One dealt with Te Atairangikahu with all the protocols that were befitting of her position. And beyond the ritual, of course, was a woman who was one of us. Yet she was not.

I often looked at her carrying out her formal duties and thought to myself that it must be a tough job to be a Queen. She was always given a place of honour at hui. Usually on the comfiest of chairs. They needed to be comfy because she has had to endure more speeches and more waiata than possibly any other Maori on the planet. It must have been gruelling to sit there and have to listen to everything. Sometimes you'd see one or two of the royal party nodding off, several hours or so into yet another major powhiri or festival.

She was never less than wonderful in her every dealing with her people. She did the job with remarkable bearing and an immaculate personal presence. We shall miss her presence at our hui, deeply.

The rituals of our culture are a vital part of what we do. We know from long experience that there is a reason for every custom and every protocol. It's all been designed so that you have to acquire a few years of life under your belt before you can see the point of the rules. And the point of the rules is to bring peace - within yourself, between others and amongst the many dimensions of life and death that make up the fabric of our humanity.

The word "rangatira" provides a vital clue into the character of the woman who was our Queen. It is often translated as chief or leader. Neither translation quite works. A rangatira weaves together groups of people who are on the move.

To achieve harmony between disparate tribes or organisations or individuals was hard work. To heal the fractious conflicts that can erupt from time to time required superhuman patience and diplomatic skills of the highest order. To forge a strong bond with the Pakeha world needed courage. All of us know that Te Atairangikahu was a person of uncommon ability and personal qualities. She brought great charisma and intuitive understanding to her task of unifying Te Ao Maori. She also had a killer smile. Indeed she was a lady of grace and a woman of mana.

The best explanation I have yet seen of what constitutes a great leader comes from a saying that is almost corny in its simplicity: "I am the leader of the people I am following." That simple utterance says it all, because it points to the humility that is evident in every truly great leader.

Despite the daunting responsibility of the tasks bequeathed to her, she was so very plainly one of us. But always, always, there was a dignity and easy informality about her.

Whether you came across her at a hui or a function, or in the supermarket aisles, she made you feel good.

There is no doubt in my mind that Dame Te Atairangikahu and Sir Apirana Ngata were the greatest two Maori leaders of the 20th century. They stand head and shoulders above everyone else.

Both rangatira were chosen by their people, not by some Government policy nor even a democratic vote. They were selected by tribal elders who saw in them certain personal characteristics as well as the divine spark of the truly great. In today's uneasy world it is easy to see the damage and chaos caused by leaders of false ability and selfish intent. We have been lucky. Then again, was it luck?

When the first Maori King was chosen, the elders of the time knew exactly what they were doing. They were setting up an institution and way of life that would ensure the survival of the race. And so it has come to pass. We're still here, and in better shape than we've been for a long time.

There is a habit amongst us. When we drive by Taupiri mountain, just south of Huntly, we turn the radio off and stop talking. There is a moment of silence as we pass by the dead of Tainui.

For me, I think of who lies there. And whether I reflect on Billy T. James or my Auntie Mere Roberts or upon so many others, I know that this tapu piece of land is a home to the character, heart, and soul of the people. It is a rock of ages to whom we turn for emotional and spiritual security.

And after the interment of our Lady, the silences that we will now observe as we drive past will be thick with meaning. For in a special space upon Taupiri will lie one who we knew: one who moved among us and who represents forever the very best of what we can be.

The Queen is dead. Long live the people.

* Tainui Stephens of Te Rarawa of Ahipara is an independent TV/film producer and director.