One of Māoridom's most respected figures,
Sir Wira Gardiner, has died aged 78.
He had an extensive career in public service.
While a tangihanga will not be held,
due to his wishes to prioritise public health,
as Te Okiwa Mclean reports
the whanau have decided to host a public service later.
A family impoverished by the death of its head.
Forever and ever amen.
But his legacy will live on forever.
He had a lot of love for his children and grandchildren.
And for Hekia, his most trusted support person.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions
and Sir Wira's wishes to hold a private tangihanga for now.
And although there is no public tangihanga,
Māoridom continues to mourn.
Indeed te ao Māori mourns
as Sir Wira conquered and paved the way for Māori.
In his service as a soldier
which then continued as a public servant
in multiple Government offices,
and most recently he began to clean the mess at Oranga Tamariki.
The footsteps he leaves behind is what he did for Oranga Tamariki.
It is here on the ground today.
Once Omicron restrictions ease,
a commemoration for Sir Wira will go ahead.
But the question posed is what legacy does he leave for Māori,
and for New Zealand as a whole?
He is a super natural being, a leader and a hero.
These are the types of words to describe him.
And there will never be anyone like him.
He was a warrior so was a skilled fighter.
He was knowledgeable and passionate about Te Tiriti o Waitangi
in his heart and all that he did.
So in his time in the public sector,
he stayed true to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Sir Wira's body has now arrived at his home in Te Kaha.
He will lay there for a night
then be taken to the mortuary in Whakatāne for cremation tomorrow.
He was one of our greatest.
Te Okiwa Mclean, Te Karere.
As we heard,
Tā Wira Gardiner didn't want us to put our health at risk from covid,
so there won't be a tangi at the marae.
He also served many roles, from Government,
Public Services, literature to war history.
Muriwai Hei captured
some of those who were fortunate enough to work alongside him.
A person who was proud to be Māori.
Wira returned to his own people,
but he lived as a Māori in Wellington.
He worked in the political realm, served in the military,
he was the CEO of Te Puni Kokiri.
And he spent years in public service to the community for many years.
He is also one of the founding members
of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
Tā Hirini Moko came up with the idea
of starting Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi,
with his backbone,
his right hand Tā Harawira.
From the inception of this concept, Tā Wira stayed true to the cause,
supporting it to this very week and month.
He spent a long time in the political world.
When I was trying to become the head of the Labour Party,
his wife was a Minister for John Key.
John Key and Hēkia, Wira's wife had no idea
that Wira had donated money to Shane Jones.
So I pay tribute to Wira for his gift to me,
even though I wasn't successful.
He was a historian,
who wrote on treaty issues as well.
For his contributions and services to Māori,
Tā Wira was made a Knight of the NZ Order of Merit in 2009.
He soared to great heights in his epic life.
He lies silent now,
but his voice will be heard throughout the ages.
Muriwai Hei, Te Karere.