By Lindy Laird
Northland's latest knight will be known by the title Ta in his Maori realm, while Pākehā are more likely to use the word Sir.
Hekenukumai Busby (Puhipi) was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Ta Hek - Hek is a version of the Anglicised name Hec he is best known by - said he was honoured all over again yesterday when Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Rawhiti Roa's senior kapa haka group performed a song commemorating his life's work.
As Ta Hek sat in front of the Tikipunga language school's students their tutor Fred Henare told them, ''This is what you need to see when you sing the song nationally. What an honour it is to be singing this song for Papa.''
The group, Te Whare Kura, gave such a rousing rendition the master carver, kapa haka expert, waka builder and traditional celestial navigator shed tears.
He told the students the song was ''beautiful'', and he felt humbled they had honoured him with it.
Speaking softly in te reo to express his humility and thanks, Ta Hek then finished his kōrero with a hearty, ''Good one!''
With his blessing, Te Whare Kura will perform the action song publicly for the first time at the National Secondary Schools Kapa Haka Competition 2018 in Palmerston North in early July.
Henare said the idea behind the composition was to immortalise the story of someone who had worked a lifetime to keep traditional Māori arts alive.
''This [song] is to celebrate all the mahi he has done for the community and young people.''
The school's kapa haka choreographers and composer Te Ruki Tobin wrote the song about the Far North kaumatua before they knew he was to be awarded a knighthood.
Tumuaki (principal) Evelyn Henare said 85-year old Ta Hek had been an artistic and cultural inspiration for three generations.
''We were doing this to tell the young people we have this taonga in our midst. Then this [knighthood] came along,'' she said.
Ta Hek told the Northern Advocate he had been involved with kapa haka for much of his life. As a youngster he was leader for the boys' haka team at Pukepoto, near Kaitaia.
''We won our first trophy in 1947, the Tai Tokerau Shield, and that shield is still around as a kapa haka prize.''
Meanwhile, the wraps will stay on the song about him, even its name, until the competition performance.
Te Rawhiti Roa kapa haka group is among three from Northland schools taking part in the national event; the others are Te Rangi Aniwaniwa in Kaitaia and Te Kapehu Whetu in Whangārei.
Rehearsals of the new song had been behind closed doors and the group asked not to practise or sing it in the school grounds before its first airing yesterday for the man whose life inspired it.
Ta Hek told the students he would like to be with them in Palmerston North. If he can not attend, he will be there in spirit, he said.
Either way, he will be present in the soaring voices and words of praise for the gifts of knowledge he has bestowed upon his people.