Colleagues pay tribute to Orzecki

The late Richard Orzecki was farewelled by his collegues yesterday. Photo / File

Fellow hospital committee members farewelled the late Richard Orzecki with a waiata at yesterday's meeting.

Wanganui's Community Public Health and Disability Committee started off their meeting by remembering Mr Orzecki, who passed away on Monday after a short battle with bowel cancer. The Foxton man and committee and Health Board member was diagnosed on April 1.

Chairwoman Kate Joblin said she would like to devote the first part of the meeting to talking about Mr Orzecki and reflecting on the message he left with them.

Ms Joblin began with a prayer, which she said fit with Mr Orzecki's way of thinking.

"It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view," she quoted.

"The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.

"We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.

"Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us."

Member Judith MacDonald described Mr Orzecki as a "totara tree", and said he was "very tall, very strong" and "very committed to an outcome". That outcome was to eliminate the inequities for Maori health.

"He created such advancement for our region ... I don't know how we're going to fill that hole."

Mr Orzecki's funeral was held yesterday at Wehi Wehi Marae in Manakau.