Te Arawa leader named chief

Rawiri Te Whare has been honoured with the chieftainship of his iwi, Ngati Tahu/Ngati Whaoa.
In an intimate setting on Mangahoanga Marae in Reporoa, about 100 family members, friends and some of Te Arawa's prominent kaumatua were on hand to observe and witness Ngati Tahu/Ngati Whaoa bestow the title of chief on Mr Te Whare at the weekend.
The title was given in recognition of his efforts as the chief negotiator for Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa trust, which represented an affiliate of 11 iwi in their Waitangi Treaty settlement negotiations with the Crown.
Ngati Tahu/Ngati Whaoa spokesman Tim Rangitakatu said Mr Te Whare had given his people the courage to stand up and be heard.
"He has been instrumental in bringing life back to our tupuna [ancestors]. So we are all students of Rawiri. He has had a personal impact on everyone in this tribe.
"[The chieftainship] is not his honour - it is ours."
As part of the weekend's ceremony the iwi presented Mr Te Whare with a korowai (cloak) especially made for the occasion.
Mr Te Whare said he was honoured by the tribute but it was through the work of many that he had been able to achieve so much.
"It has been a long journey and it has always been an issue for me, that one person always ends up getting all the acknowledgement - when you know full well other people assisted along the way and if they had not been there then I would not have been there as well," Mr Te Whare said.
"I just want to acknowledge as far as I'm concerned the tohu [award] is to be received by one person but it is my wish to accept it on behalf of all the other people that assisted in all the work."
Mr Te Whare was instrumental in helping bring to a successful conclusion an $85 million Treaty of Waitangi deal plus an apology from the Crown for Te Arawa.
Among the many Te Arawa kaumatua who praised Mr Te Whare for his work during the settlement process was Anaru Rangiheuea who, in a speech at the marae on Saturday, said Mr Te Whare deserved a knighthood along with his title of chief.
Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa Ngati/Tahu Ngati Whaoa trustee Roger Pikia described Mr Te Whare as a quiet but determined leader of his iwi.
"We owe him a great debt of gratitude that we can never repay - a debt that he has never sought recompense for," he said.
"It has been through his leadership that our iwi has gained much recognition."
Mr Te Whare's skills as a negotiator have also not gone unnoticed by iwi from outside the region, Tauranga's Ngati Ranginui asking for his help with their Treaty of Waitangi settlement.