Those words were from the politicians across the political spectrum who might nothave agreed with “Aunty or Whaea Tari” – as she was widely known – or her politics but acknowledged the high esteem in which she was held and the huge contribution she made to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Each word rightly describes the matriarch of the Māori Party in the way she conducted her life and the mana she leaves with her death.
Thousands of New Zealanders have made the pilgrimage to Dame Tariana’s Whangaehu Marae to pay their respects to the life of a wāhine Māori who loved everyone, regardless of whether you had Māori whakapapa.
Tā Pita Sharples, Dame Tariana Turia, Rangi McLean, John Tamihere, Dame Naida Glavish and Kaapua Smith ahead of the 2020 campaign. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Born Tariana Woonon on April 8, 1944 to a United States – likely a Native American – marine father, Tariana (Ngāti Apa, Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Whanganui iwi) grew up in the village of Pūtiki, on the Whanganui River, raised by a grandmother, whāngai parents and aunties.
This is where Tariana’s view of whānau, and it takes a village to raise a child were shaped.
She attended Wanganui Girls’ College and trained as a nurse and in 1962 married George Turia at Ratana Pā. The couple had four children and two whāngai children, and fostered dozens more.
Before entering politics Tariana was involved in the health and iwi development sectors and the couple set up the first marae-based programme offering youngsters training in literacy and a range of skills including engineering and catering.
She entered Parliament as a Labour list MP in 1996.
But it was in 2004 that Tariana showed her real mettle. It is written that Tariana left the Labour Party. The truth is, the Labour Party left Tariana over its controversial Foreshore and Seabed legislation.
Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke. Photo / RNZ
She started the Māori Party – later to be renamed Te Pāti Māori – and the rest is history.
Among the many glowing tributes was a small story from New Zealand’s youngest MP Hana-Rawhiti Kareariki Maipi-Clarke who as a toddler was taken to the 2004 foreshore and seabed hīkoi in Wellington.
She remembers from her pram she looked up and saw the smiling face of Dame Tariana Turia.
Hikoi members leave Waitangi Park and walk along the streets heading towards Parliament on November 19, 2024. Photo/ Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images.
Maipi-Clarke saw Tariana Turia again in November as thousands joined the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti (Māori for “March for the Treaty”) against the Treaty Principles Bill and how proud she looked.
Or was that smile the passing of the torch from Dame Tariana Turia to the new generation of Māori freedom fighters?
