TREASURE: Mauriora Kingi's body was brought on to the grounds of his home marae at Whakarewarewa last night. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
TREASURE: Mauriora Kingi's body was brought on to the grounds of his home marae at Whakarewarewa last night. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
Rotorua is mourning the sudden loss of Mauriora Kingi, a man described as one of the district's "taonga" by Mayor Steve Chadwick.
The Rotorua Lakes Council's director of kaupapa Maori - Te Mauri Rangituhaha Kingi, known as Mauriora - died suddenly yesterday. He was 53.
Mr Kingi was described by Mrs Chadwick as the "glue" between council and iwi.
On Monday, Mr Kingi was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday Honours. He was due to fly to the UK tomorrow to be part of a New Zealand House ceremony to return a meeting house, council chief executive Geoff Williams said.
Last night, he was brought on to his tupuna whare, Wahiao, at Whakarewarewa. There was standing room only as whanau, colleagues and the wider community gathered to pay their respects.
"The eight beating hearts of Te Arawa are broken with the loss of one of our favourite sons," said Waiariki MP and Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell.
"Mauriora Kingi epitomised the proverb Te Arawa Mangai Nui and now his unforgettable voice is silenced.
"Mauriora's passing leaves a deep hole in our hearts and he will be hugely missed by many people, Maori and Pakeha, but especially his people of Tuhourangi and Ngati Wahiao."
Ngati Whakaue kaumatua Monty Morrison said he would remember Mr Kingi for his mana.
"A great tribute to him is he would carry [his responsibilities] with such mana and that's how I will remember him. He's made a huge contribution in his time."
Mrs Chadwick said the council was devastated.
"Mau was our taonga and he made a huge and important contribution. We are trying to deal with this heart-breaking loss as best we can and our thoughts go out to his whanau and to Mau's council whanau.
"He was the glue between council and iwi and beyond that, between iwi and iwi - his vast knowledge and his sage advice were invaluable to me as mayor and to everyone in this organisation."
Mr Kingi joined the council in 1997, starting as iwi communications assistant in environmental services and then moved to the community services department where he assumed the role of cultural adviser. He later became iwi communications manager and, in 2001, kaupapa Maori director.
Speaking about his Queen's Birthday honour on Monday, Mr Kingi said he loved his work and being able to share his knowledge, and contributing to a better understanding between the council and iwi.
He said he felt there were people more deserving of the honour.
"A lot of people should be acknowledged for the great work they do.
"To be recognised like this is an honour but it's the old people who have nurtured me I suppose and taught me what I know."
Mourners at Whakarewarewa's Te Pakira Marae on Friday night Photo/Ben Fraser
Having been heavily involved with Rotorua Lakes Council's former Te Arawa Standing Committee, he had been looking forward to contributing to implementing the new partnership model between the council and Te Arawa, aimed at forging a stronger, enduring relationship with local iwi.
Mr Kingi is lying at Wahiao, Whakarewarewa. His tangi is on Tuesday at 11am.
