Te Whānau-a-Apanui farewelled Sir Wira Gardiner on Friday as he took his final journey to the people of Ngāti Awa.
Of Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pikiao, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Whakatōhea descent, Sir Wira Gardiner, died at the age of 78, while with his whānau in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa, Gisborne.
Whānau Spokesperson Willie Te Aho told Newshub that for the last 8 months Sir Wira was suffering with illness but had passed peacefully, on Thursday night.
"Although their (his whānau) hearts are low, they are relieved for him as he does not have to endure more pain," Te Aho says.
Since Friday afternoon, his body has been lying in state at Te Kaha-nui-a-tiki marae, on his mother’s ancestral lands of Te Whānau a Te Ēhutu, of Te Whānau-a-Apanui, in Te Kaha - meaning stronghold.
"This is the place where he would retreat and build his strength again and then went out to do a lot of many things for our country and the world," Te Aho says.
His coffin was finally closed early hours this morning and taking the final leg of his journey to Whakatāne where a service will be held for him with 45 whānau members.
He’s leaving Whanau a Apanui territory today.
On Friday he was in Te Tairāwhiti (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Oneone) and will be in Whakatāne with Ngāti Awa today.
"He will be cremated as per his wishes. His main focus was to keep our people safe and that’s why we are keeping to these COVID procedures," Te Aho says.
His wish was for a tangihanga not to be held, instead he'd rather have the effort put into public health and the demands currently on frontline workers.
A man who always puts people first.
"Generous with his time, generous with his advice, generous with his kindness he will leave a legacy but he will be deeply, deeply missed," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.
"He was an exceptional New Zealander and made an immense contribution to New Zealand when you think of his life and career, incredible," National Leader Christopher Luxon says.
Sir Gardiner, was a prominent Māori leader who had a long career as a senior public servant. However, he was remembered for his unwavering commitment to build a bridge between two peoples.
He served in the Vietnam War, retiring in1983 as Lieutenant Colonel, the highest-ranking Māori at the time.
He was also a scholar that gained degrees from Canterbury and London universities and was the author of many books that included the Māori Battalion.
As a public servant, building Māori-Crown relationships was his specialty.
He became the founding director of The Waitangi Tribunal and the first Chief Executive of the Ministry of Māori Development during the time of National Government’s 1994 policy of capping treaty settlements, sparking protests across the country.
On Waitangi Day in 1995, altercations were seen between Sir Wira and Hone Harawira, but despite the serious heat and political divide, Sir Wira was well respected on both sides.
Sir Gardiner was also remembered for his unwavering commitment, building the bridge between the Crown and Māori iwi and people.
He was a part of the National Party taking on senior roles and husband to former National Cabinet Minister Hekia Parata.
He was knighted for his services to Māori and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate soon after.
Prior to his illness in August, he was chosen to reform Oranga Tamariki after a troubled time of child uplifts.
Grand nephew and Defence Minister Peeni Henare says he gave good sound advice.
"I knew Sir Wira all my life, so have my father and grandfather before me," Henare says. "My farewell to him as the Minister of Defence acknowledging his time in the army and as a Māori politician who has witnessed his work first hand throughout decades to improve the lot for Māori communities and whānau everywhere."
"He was always forthcoming about his advice to me and to my colleagues about some of the things we needed to do to improve the world for Māori people."
Survived by his wife and his five children, Sir Gardiner will be known as one of the most dominant figures in Māori development.
In a statement to Newshub, the whānau have said that when conditions allow it, there will be a memorial service for Sir Wira to allow those from the many worlds he walked in to acknowledge his passing.
This article is part of Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
