Meng Foon's 18-year-old tenure as Gisborne mayor has ended.
And it seems appropriate
that the last formal event for the charismatic,
Maori speaking, Chinese leader is taking place on a marae.
That's right, just a few moments ago,
Meng Foon arrived at Te Poho o Rawiri Marae, Gisborne
where East Coast iwi have organised a special farewell.
Joining us live from that marae is reporter, Irena Smith, Irena.
Yes, the mayor and his wife
have just arrived on-site here at Te Poho o Rawiri.
They will celebrate and acknowledge his many accomplishments
throughout the Gisborne district
and into the wider Ngati Porou tribal area.
While he was holding his last council meeting today,
Meng reflected on the advice given to him by the elders
that have guided him
from when he first was sworn in as mayor of Gisborne until today.
He says he held on to this role of mayor for one particular reason.
Elders of the East Coast gave me this advice.
Meng, you need to attend engagements regularly to be seen.
That's what you need to do.
It's so important.
So I want to all sorts of events whether they were marriages
celebrations, funerals, community meetings,
building openings, book launches.
It was always important to meet the people and to be seen at events.
This is something I'll be taking forward with me in my future career.
Be seen regularly! How popular a mayor was Meng Goon?
Well let's just say he is a very popular personality.
Not only here at home but all around the country too.
But the locals say he was a man who was always out and about
and would talk to everyone no matter how old they were,
or where they were from, or how rich or poor they were.
He was a skilful person, and as they say,
the food of chiefs is talking.
Yes, some weren't happy about everything he did.
Today, however, on the streets of Gisborne
I heard the majority of people singing his praises.
Irena, that last person reference Maori
and how much local Maori adored him.
Why do East Coast Maori hold him in such regard?
Well all the iwi like him
and he is considered an honourary 'descendant'
of all the iwi of the East Coast.
Ngati Porou have embraced him, especially the elders.
He created an agreement whereby the council and Ngati Porou
would work closer and more collaboratively together
on decisions made by the council that impact in their tribal area.
He was involved in helping local elders like Api Mahuika
and my grandfather Noel Raihania
in establishing a museum
commemorating the C Company of the Maori Battalion.
But there is one elder that was there
when he was named mayor and is still there today.
I'm talking about Isaacs Temple.
Here's what he had to say about Meng.
We've had a close relationship as we've addressed community issues,
Maori and non-Maori.
What an experience.
As you can see Scotty behind there
are people getting up to grab themselves some hot drinks.
There's no crayfish here but there's still delicious food here.
However, there is no rest for Meng
because on Monday he receives his formal welcome
at the Wharewaka in Wellington for his new role down there.
He is set to become the Race Relations Commissioner.
It's a major and important role and there's no doubt that his people
will take him to his new job there from the East Coast.
Thank you for the update, Irena Smith.