Tributes to Dame Te Ata - a loved leader (1)

E hoki ana aku mahara ki nga tini tau i haere ai nga roopu kapahaka o Turanga Wahine, Turanga Tane, Whangara-mai-tawhiti, Te Waihirere, Hauiti me Te Hokowhitu-a-tu ki Ngaruawahia, whakanui ai i te koroneihana a to tatou ariki. I whakanuia matou e te iwi o Tainui, na o matou paanga whakapapa ki a Mahinarangi. We were humbled as young high school students of the East Coast at that time, and I have been privileged to meet and share a smile with "our lady" many times as an adult. Other than my own nannies and my mother ... I can think of no woman more deserving of praise for her love for the people and indescribable beauty of spirit. Moe mai ra e te kahurangi, kua whai hua o tini mahi mo te iwi Maori, na, e okioki koe i nga ringa aroha o o matua tipuna. We love you and miss you.
- Te Hamua Nikora.

Dame Te Ata was a born leader, an immense matriarch, a loving mother to her family and people she will be greatly missed. I second the statement "she was an immense presence in our lives - her dignity, her compassion, and her visionary influence will be a huge loss to Maoridom". Blessings to the family at this time. It is with the utmost respect that we will be alongside the country and nation mourning the Queen. Until we meet again.
- T.W. Betham, California.

For the honour of Dame Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu being the first Lady Monarch in the Kingitanga movement, inspired not only Maori people, but for New Zealand (Aotearoa) in particular. As I am a member of the Tainui Iwi, I acknowledge her diplomacy, humility and trust will be appreciated by her people of Tainui and for the rest of this country. No Reira, Kia Ora Koutou Katoa!
- Phillip-Charles Whatarapaka-Tata Waitaotao Tauira-Mahara.

Moe mai ra te Maori Queen a Dame Te Ata. Your words of wisdom gave us great courage to move on in life. Your leadership drew all the Maori tribes together in harmony and I was among them, from Greymouth, Haast and all the West Coast. Arohanui and manuia te malaga.
- Torisse Liu, Fakaofo, Tokelau.

E taku Kuini! Taku Rangatira! Haere atu ra! Haere ki nga taua nei tupuna matua kua mene atu ki te po, Haere, haere, haere atu ra! Indeed it is a very sad day for Tainui and the Waikato people, as well as New Zealand. Our "Lady", as she was affectionately known, has passed over, she has "joined the stars above, where she will shine forever more". My grandparents, parents and down to many in my generation, are the humble servants and supporters of Te Arikinui, me te Whanau o te Kahui Ariki (Blue Bloods). We will miss her steady leadership, her stature, her presence and her grace.
- Matt, Lania and Maera Paki, Perth, Western Australia.

A beautiful, gracious and very humble wahine. Growing up as a youngster and seeing you grace our marae throughout our rohe made me feel special and very proud in that I loved having you as our queen that beautiful smile and aroha that never wavered and always glowed which in turn flowed from your beautiful face on to all of us whom you came in contact with. I will forever be grateful and cherish those beautiful days where you would always attend poukai at Mangatangi October the 12th. Thank you for being our Queen.
- Judy Te Whare.


I attended the Hui Taumata in Wellington last year as a youth delegate and the Maori Queen was in attendance. I remember getting into a lift that she was also getting into and when I moved out of her way so that she and those accompanying her could get into the lift first she signalled for me to step in before her. I though this was a sign of the type of person she was -- one who put others before herself. I had the pleasure of talking with her at the conference dinner and remember her saying how lovely it was to see young people at the Hui and the need for people to invest more time into young people. She really had a genuine interest in youth and the future of Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Arikinui will be sorely missed by the people of Tainui and people throughout New Zealand. She has been a dignified and approachable national Maori leader with a focus on unifying Maori and Pakeha New Zealanders. Today we lost the 'Mokopuna o te motu' (child of the nation) - a person with immense mana who has been a role model to her people and the peopel of New Zealand in general. Haere e te Arikinui, haere atu ra.
- Areti Metuamate


I was fortunate to meet the grand lady at an I.P.C held at Rehua Marae, next my Toua I thought that she was THE most gracious lady I had ever beheld. She will be sorely missed by a number of people the world over.
- Brian Lewis


My fondest memories will always be of the Koroneihana listening to her words of wisdom. Nothing can ever compare to that. Her humble approach to life, political situations, maori grievances, maori issues and of course maori people in general. Arohanui i nga wa katoa,
- Joy Taylor and whanau

Im now living in Australia and the news got across the ditch really fast. My fondest memory of Te Arikinui was travelling with my Grandparents Rua Cooper and Rose Cooper-Smith to Marae throughout Tainui for their anual Poukai. When i was young Te Ariki and Whatumoana would stay at my grandparents place when our marae Whatapaka would have our Poukai.These are some memories that i have and that will not be forgotten. At a young age there were many of us travelling with our grandparents,We all learnt alot from the Queen and the Kaumatua who travelled with her. Nga Mihi nui, ki te whanau i tenei wa pouri,Kia Kaha,Kia maia,Kia manawanui. Arohanui,
- Rangimaria Smith, Sydney Poihakena, Australia

Moe mai e Queenie, for your work here is done.
You rest now. Arohanui,
- Jason Morehu, Brisbane, Australia

God Bless a lovely lady who has shown such dignity
over the years. Maoridom has lost a great leader and
will be poorer for having lost their Queen.
- Sharon Parry

Dame Te Ata was a very beautiful women who i looked up to greatly. Her tangi will bring Aotearoa closer together, as we all mourn withn our hearts over the death of this humble women. I can remember as a 13 yr old at her coronation, she smiling at me and saying how beautiful I looked. Dame Te Ata sought to connect and unite the whole of Aotearoa. And I thank her for that. Haere atu ra e te Ariki Nui.
- Jonaan

Tonight in New York a small but strong hapu meets to honour our Dame Te Ata. Although seperated from you by seas, we are still united, and come together for her. Having had the chance to meet Dame Ata was an honour. At the 2004 Pacific Arts festival in Palau I will never forget the grace, the eyes, and the smile that caressed us all. Much love to the whanau, and all the people of New Zealand.
- Reuben Paterson


Moe mai ra, moe mai ra, moe mai ra a Dame Te Atairangikaahu, haere, haere, haere ki te Matua-i-te-rangi, te kaihanga o te rangiatea, te pou rangatira o te iwi, haapu me nga whanui o te motu. Haere i muri o te tira parâoa. A very sad day in Maoridom as we remember a great and humble person, leader, mother, mentor, grandmother, great grand mother and matriarch of the Tainui waka. I had the honour and previledge of spending time with Te Atairangikaahu about 3- 4 years ago as we sat and talked, laughed and had a kai together in her beloved community of Hopuhopu. I was taken by her calm, humble and wise spirit, something I and others will miss. Haere a rangatira, haere ra, moemoe ra.
- Josh Phillips

Farewell Dame Te Arikinui Te Atairangikahu
The moon has fallen
The stars have closed their eyes
The heavens are in turmoil
And the great winds force their will on this land
The glittering Sun of Tainui has now set for the last time
The dark clouds have gathered on Ngaruawahia
And the finger of lightning points to Turangiwaewae
From the communities of Otara who you visited so often in the past
Safe journey to the heavens
Farewell Dame Te Arikinui Te Atairangikahu
- Su'a William Sio, Manukau City Councillor, Otara Ward

Taka, ka taka
Ka taka te motoi
E kapo ki te whetu
E kapo ki te marama
E kapo ki te ata o taku raukura, ka riro!
It falls, it falls
The greenstone pendant falls
I snatch at the star
I snatch at the moon
I snatch at the feather of my lost feather plume!
Haere ra e te Arikinui, haere haere moe mai ra.
Memories live on although you have passed e kui, you leave a legacy of diplomacy, vision and dignity for us to hold on to, to follow and pass on to our mokopuna.
You are loved and cherished, mo ake tonu.
- Te Paea Paringatai

A pioneer for her people. Strong and courageous. She will be sorely missed
- Rangiora

Moe mai e te Whaea
Kua wheturangitia tou Wairua
Hoki atu ra, hoki atu ra - ki te taha o ou Tipuna
Ki te Atua
He kikokiko te tinana - he maro te mohiotanga
Kua whakareia to ngakau ki te rangi, mo ake tonu atu
Sleep dear whaea
Your spirit journeys and returns to your tipuna
to your creator
the body is perishable
but the knowing (of you) is everlasting
your spirit rests in the heavens forevermore
Great Love and respect to all uri no Tainui, to Maoritanga, and to our Whanau Whanui in Aotearoa.
Ma te Atua tatou e manaki - e arahi i roto i tenei waa pouri.
- Ngarui Tamanui-Pasene

To a woman and leader who is unparalelled internationally and historically .Need I say more
- Rarere Whanau

Takoto mai i roto ite ariki. May God bless you
- Emma, Roimata and Logan

Haere atu ra te Rangatira, haere atu ki to matua tipuna. I bid you a fond farewell and want to acknowledge the many times over the last 25 years that you made time to talk with the tauira that we took from MIT to the Mangatangi marae for wananga and poukai. Your humility, sincerity and charisma in its quiet way has had a major impact on many whanau.
Go in peace your work in this world has been well done. Arohanui,
- Kupa Whanau

Kua hinga te totaranui o Tainui Waka.
Fond memories of a humble leader, one who could easily join the ranks of our Maori Renaissance.
- Jacqui

Kia tau te rangimarie whaea, kia mau te wehi. Let peace be your journey - respect.
- Shortland Whanau ki Kirikiriroa

A beautiful and gracious Queen, whose smile was always given so freely. She was a warm and humble woman that will be missed by many people both young and old. What a sad day for those of us that appreciated her for being who she was, a wonderful lady of the people.
- Brenda and Sharon

Our hearts are sad they have called you home to the heavens above, our land is green, the air is fresh, our rivers run free, the valleys and mountains are enriched with the sound of our tamariki running across the wide expanse of Aotearoa, we have lost our Matriarch! A woman so gracious that held our hearts and minds, the Matriarch that lead the way for us to follow, we will sadly miss you, but your teachings and great aroha you had for us, will live on in our hearts...we will meet you again in our prayers, and there will be many days ahead that you will walk through our minds, you will never be forgotten, A treasure of the rearest kind...A mother to us...arohanui moe moe a...
- Carolyne, Tanui/Manapoto Ngat Raukawa

My heart goes out to all who are affected by the loss of Our "Lady", Te Kuini Maori - Dame Te Atairangikaahu. Know that she has gone to a place far better than we could ever imagine, remember the good times you had with her and smile for she is suffering no longer. I thank God for putting Dame Te Atairangikaahu on this earth, she is and will always be an inspiration to us all!
- Aroha

Dame Te Ata will always be remembered in the western suburbs of Melbourne when on her last visit she launched the NZ frigates at Williamstown. To her family and whanau my condolences and sympathy. May she rest in the embrace of our ancestors. Ekura
- Margaret Emery, Melbourne, Australia.

A shining star has been extinguished and we feel her loss across the distance. Her loss brings home the truth that ,wherever we are, we are still New Zealanders at heart
- JonL Perth


Heavens arms open wide
Tipuna longing to embrace thee
A powerful Queen so cherished indeed
Tendered spirit lovingly free
Graced the people with wisdom
Courage and undying conviction
Walked gently amongst us all
Carrying the bloodlines that held us tall
Ensuring our people would not fall
In times of oppression and turmoil
A loving leader who shines so bright
Your lives destiny our guiding light
Will forever remain in our hearts
In the misty mornings and throughout each and every day
Above and beneath, in the depth of our souls
Your voice softly says...
'embrace the teachings, take it forward together'
From the past, present and into the future
The treasured memory leads the way
Of our beloved Queen
Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu
We will forever cherish, love and adore you
Arohanui,
- Christel & Kevin Broederlow & Sons, Gold Coast, Australia