Tributes continue to flow for late kura kaupapa Maori stalwart
Toni Waho.
He's being welcomed today at the kura he started.
Standing by at Mana Tamariki is our reporter Eruera Rerekura.
Eru, tena koe.
What is the feeling on the ground there right now?
While this is a sad moment in time for Maori education,
I can feel a sense of joy amongst the Maori children here
as they practice their items
to perform in tribute of the deceased.
Earlier today,
I spoke to Rawiri Wright,
the current principal
of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Mokopuna
as well as to Meihana Durie,
of Rangitane,
about this most important individual,
Toni Waho.
The Mana Tamariki whanau are all mourning,
including the wider Rangitane iwi.
That's because Toni was a staunch foot soldier
fighting for Te Reo Maori.
Reviving Te Reo Maori through schools
to the establishment of kura kaupapa like this one, Mana Tamariki.
He established this school many years ago.
So, in our hearts, we mourn for him with his departing.
But, we continue to celebrate his gift
which he left to benefit today's generation of children
enabling them to become the Maori leaders of tomorrow.
We are at Mana Tamariki today.
He spent a long time fighting to enable this school to run
and for Te Aho Matua to be a reality for the children.
So, this is a huge loss.
Whenever I think of him,
I also think about Te Aho Matua,
he was an ardent advocate and protector of Te Aho Matua.
He was also involved with Massey University
helping to establish their teaching degree
Te Aho Tatairangi as well as Te Aho Paerewa.
He did a lot of things when he was alive.
There are lot of things he was involved in that are a testament
to the kind of man he was.
For example, there's this school,
then there's Te Kohanga Reo itself,
as well as other schools.
There's also everything he did
for his iwi as well as the wider local community.
Then there's also all the songs he wrote over the years.
Other than the whanau here,
quite possibly the wider country may not know about these.
He was a prolific composer.
Certainly, everything he did,
he did it with justice.
Then there's also the work he did with the runanga.
There were times when he was a liaison officers
and others when he was the chair.
He's led from the back,
the front and the middle as well.
Eru, what are the funeral arrangements from now on?
According to the arrangements,
he will stay here for a brief time.
Then he will be taken to Tirorangi Marae,
under the shelter of Mt Ruapehu,
to be amongst his people,
Ngati Rangi.
He will be buried on Sunday, Scotty.
Thank you for the update Eruera.
Eruera Rererkura live from Palmerston North.