Obituary: Morvin Te Anatipa Simon

Morvin Simon.

Nga Paerangi yesterday farewelled their son and kaumatua, Morvin Te Anatipa Simon.

Mr Simon died in Wellington Hospital on May 14.

Hundreds travelled to the tangi at Kaiwhaiki Marae on the Whanganui River, and yesterday they returned for the funeral. The waiata of Kaiwhaiki - Valley of Voices, filled the marae as the people arrived; the students from Mr Simon's former school Hato Paora College, and the many whose lives he had touched in his years as a cultural adviser, senior te reo Maori tutor for Te Wananga o Aotearoa, choirmaster, leader of Te Matapihi, and as a quiet leader of his people.

Katrina Hawira, a former student and now a te reo tutor herself, said Mr Simon was highly revered and respected through his mahi and all that he did.

"He was consummate. You would go to Morvin for support or guidance. Other speakers are not at that calibre. I don't think his shoes could ever be filled."

Over the years Mr Simon wrote hundreds of songs, and many of them for special occasions, such as the passing of Whanganui iwi leader Sir Archie Taiaroa.

One of his best known songs is Te Aroha, written in 1983 to soothe the situation during a fractious workers' collective hui.

Mr Simon also wrote three books; Taku Whare E I, II and III.

The first two give brief descriptions of all the marae in the wider region and the third about his home marae.

In this third book about the history of Kaiwhaiki, which was launched in December 2012, Mr Simon wrote: "I have fished the morning tide ... I leave the evening tide to you."