Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Hundreds turn out to farewell kaumatua (+video)

Rotorua Daily Post
23 Nov, 2016 09:24 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

UPDATED:

An honour guard of more than 100 of Mita Mohi's former students has formed, as Mr Mohi's body is carried off the marae.

The students span across the decades and are carrying taiaha as part of the honour guard.

There are moving scenes as the past students perform a haka.

Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker
Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker

Image 1 of 13: Funeral for Mita Mohi at Awahou. 24 November 2016 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The formal part of the tangihana is now over.

Speaking during the service, Mr Mohi's grandson Hohua said his grandfather would have been embarrassed by the number of people who had turned out.

Other speakers included Mr Mohi's son Patrick, and actor Cliff Curtis.

The ceremony, led by Reverend Tom Poata, was included a mix of humour and emotion.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

EARLIER:

Hundreds of people have turned out to farewell Te Arawa kaumatua Mita Mohi.

About 500 people are at Tarimano Marae at Awahau for the tangihana for the 77-year-old. who died on Sunday.

Hundreds of vehicles line the road towards the marae. As well as family, actor Cliff Curtis and Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell are there.

Mr Flavell cut short his visit to the United States to return for Mr Mohi's tangi.

The service started with Reverend Tom Poata addressing the crowd in te reo.

Mr Mohi, who was awarded an MBE in 1994, started the Mokoia Taiaha Wananga, the longest-running mau taiaha wananga in the country, which saw more than 20,000 people attend courses.

Actor Cliff Curtis speaking at Mita Mohi's tangihana
Actor Cliff Curtis speaking at Mita Mohi's tangihana

He has also served on marae committees, school trust boards, the Parole Board and as kaumatua for the police.

Mr Mohi was also a former New Zealand rugby league player, representing the Kiwis in 1972 on a tour to France.

Following his death, second cousin and friend Trevor Maxwell described Mr Mohi as a "beautiful man" who gave so much and saved so many.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Mr Mohi will be buried at the nearby Ngati Rangiwewehi urupa, Puhirua, next to his late wife, Hukarere.

Mita Mohi
Mita Mohi
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

Home-schooled students ride 755km to Parliament for equal sports access

10 Jul 11:07 PM
Rotorua Daily PostUpdated

Heavy rain warning issued for Bay of Plenty, up to 140mm expected

10 Jul 10:57 PM
Rotorua Daily PostUpdated

Light truck rolls on SH36, one seriously injured

10 Jul 10:45 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Home-schooled students ride 755km to Parliament for equal sports access

Home-schooled students ride 755km to Parliament for equal sports access

10 Jul 11:07 PM

Amelia Twiss and George Fisher made the journey over 10 days.

Heavy rain warning issued for Bay of Plenty, up to 140mm expected

Heavy rain warning issued for Bay of Plenty, up to 140mm expected

10 Jul 10:57 PM
Light truck rolls on SH36, one seriously injured

Light truck rolls on SH36, one seriously injured

10 Jul 10:45 PM
'Give Paea a chance': Wife's tearful plea for Tongan overstayer

'Give Paea a chance': Wife's tearful plea for Tongan overstayer

10 Jul 08:02 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP