Te Ururoa Flavell: Time to mourn friend

Te Orohi Paul was a woman seen at all hui, tangi and out in the community. Photo / File

Tena tatou katoa. I start today with a farewell to my close friend Te Orohi who passed away last week. Te Orohi was a woman who was seen at all the hui, tangi, and out in the community. She was my rock, my friend, my guide, and I will miss her dearly. Te Orohi, my heart cries for you. Sleep now my friend, be at rest.

My diary has been incredibly full for this past week, indeed it seems like every week. There are so many people who wish to meet me.

But last week when I returned home, I saw some of the wonderful work that had been done by our district council in the Kuirau Park region.

All the weeds have been cleared and it looks like a postcard. So let me pay tribute to the council workers who have done a great job. Congratulations.

I recently attended the opening of the memorial building to C Company of the 28th Maori Battalion. It was a bitter-sweet occasion for the descendants remembering the thousands who went to battle and there are but a small number of those who returned home who are still alive.

That museum is much like what we have here in the Government Gardens but the day was even more significant because of the launch of the book The Price of Citizenship which was translated into Maori. The great thing about this is that the book documents the history of C Company.

The other companies like the "Penny Divers" are yet to start to gather together the history of their own. Hekia Parata, Minister of Education, has started to address that through the Ngarimu Scholarship Fund by allocating money for that task.

Once we get that sort of resource to be available for this generation then we will really appreciate the sacrifices of those who went to war.

I have started my travels around the country gathering the thoughts of the people, while also meeting officials from Te Puni Kokiri and those involved in Whanau Ora. I have also managed to get time with Maori businesses. The great thing about all of these hui is that I have been able to hear the dreams and aspirations, the gripes, the accolades of the people. So I acknowledge those who attended our recent hui at Te Papaiouru. Can I thank you for welcoming me as Minister. I was very humbled by the gesture.

In conclusion let me congratulate the schools who did so well at our local school Kapa Haka Primary/Intermediate competition namely, Rotorua Intermediate, Ruamata, Ngati Rongomai and Hurunga Te Rangi. Acknowledgements must go to the students, teachers and all the whanau who provide such massive support. Well done.

-I welcome your feedback. Email mpwaiariki@parliamen.govt.nz Phone 0508 924 274