Rotorua and Te Arawa are mourning the loss of a quiet, humble man who gave everything to his people, right up until he died.
Poiti Arama-Karaka Pirika, otherwise known as Boydie, died after suffering a heart attack at his home on Saturday. He was 76.
His body lay at Owhata Marae for his tangi before being brought to Tunohopu Marae in Ohinemutu today for his funeral service.
He was affiliated to Te Arawa hapu Ngati Te Roro o Te Rangi, Ngati Rangiteaorere, Ngati Uenukukopako and Ngati Tunohopu and will be buried at Pukepoto Urupa.
His nephew Nireaha Pirika said his uncle was a humble person who always looked after others, sometimes to his own detriment.
"He was quite cryptic in some of the things he said, which always made you think.
"He worked so hard for the hapu and iwi, he didn't really look after himself because he was too busy helping others.
"They were always telling him to go to the hospital to get himself sorted out, but he always found something else to do for his people. He was always at meetings all over the country.
"Some may have called him stubborn, but he was just firm in his ideals and I think that's a good trait to have."
Nireaha Pirika said his uncle was also involved with the re-naming of Waiariki Institute of Technology to Toi Ohomai and was on working groups regarding the controversial Rotorua Eastern Arterial route and upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant.
For many years he was involved with local and national district health boards, specifically in the area of mental health.
At the time of his death he was also chairman of Te Arawa Pukenga Koeke (council of elders).
Te Arawa Pukenga Koeke member and Rotorua Lakes Council Te Tatau o Te Arawa Board Pukenga Koeke representative, Dr Ken Kennedy, said thousands had paid their respects to him during his tangi.
"In his own quiet way and for a long time, he's been leading the way for his hapu as a man with great leadership qualities.
"What was great about Arama was that he could add a bit of wit to what he said.
"He was nurtured by a family that held strong to Te Arawa kawa (protocol) and tikanga (traditions) and even in today's world was adamant these were adhered to."
His colleague in the mental health field, Phyllis Tangitu, spoke at his funeral service saying he was a passionate, intellectual person with the ability to operate in both Maori and Western worlds.
"He had the gift of the gab and was a master storyteller," she said.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) also paid tribute to him on its website saying he was the "highly respected spiritual head of the college in New Zealand" where he provided cultural and spiritual guidance and leadership to psychiatrists, students and trainees.
"He also ensured we had a voice and face within Maoridom and provided a respected and 'inclusive' voice and strong identity for our Maori students, trainees and psychiatrists," the college said.
"His mana permeated everything he contributed too ... and his extensive contributions to the work of the college as kaumatua were acknowledged by receiving the RANZCP's Mark Sheldon Award in 2010."
Poiti Arama-Karaka Pirika
- 16/02/1941 - 25/02/2017
- Educated at Rotokawa School and Rotorua High School
- Worked as a mechanic
- Worked in mental health services for local and national health boards
- Chairman of Te Arawa Pukenga Koeke (council of elders)