Obituaries — Sir Paul Reeves ONZ GCMG GCVO QSO 
Obituaries — Sir Paul Reeves ONZ GCMG GCVO QSO 
[Volume:675;Page:20597] 
Tuesday 16 August 2011 
Mr Speaker 
 took the Chair at 2 p.m. 
Karakia 
. 
Obituaries 
Sir Paul Reeves ONZ GCMG GCVO QSO 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 I seek leave to move a motion without notice on the passing of former Governor-General of New Zealand Sir Paul Reeves. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is there are objection to that course being followed? There is none. 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I move  
That the House express its sympathy and condolences to the family of Sir Paul Reeves and pay tribute to the outstanding contribution Sir Paul made to this country 
. The Rt Rev. and the Hon Sir Paul Alfred Reeves passed away in Auckland on Sunday 14 August at the age of 78. It is with great sadness that I heard of Sir Paul’s passing for he was one of the country’s greatest statesmen and admired by so many. I had the privilege of meeting Sir Paul on a number of occasions and he was a fine man. 
Sir Paul trained for the Anglican priesthood and in 1980 became Primate and Archbishop of New Zealand. In 1985 he became New Zealand’s first Maori Governor-General. His tenure as Governor-General was one of inclusiveness and compassion. He modelled his governorship on the life of a bishop saying: “A bishop travels. A bishop stands alongside his people and searches for common ground.” 
Sir Paul’s contribution to New Zealand did not end when he left Government House. He spent another two decades serving at the highest level and for this the people of New Zealand are forever indebted to him. He was Anglican Observer at the United Nations he observed elections in Ghana and South Africa he helped write constitutions for Fiji and Ghana and he chaired the Nelson Mandela Trust. He was awarded New Zealand’s highest honour the Order of New Zealand in 2007. This was New Zealand’s chance to formally recognise his outstanding dedication to this country. 
The thoughts of the Government are with Sir Paul’s wife Beverley Lady Reeves; his three daughters Sarah Bridget and Jane; his six mokopuna; and his whole family at this time. A State funeral for Sir Paul will be held this Thursday 18 August in Auckland and I will be attending alongside a number of members of this House. I am sure we will be joined by many New Zealanders wishing to pay tribute to Sir Paul’s life. Sir Paul’s life was a life spent giving. His contribution to this country was simply enormous and New Zealand is a poorer place for his passing. 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Leader of the Opposition) 
: 
 Today in this House we mourn the loss of a great New Zealander Sir Paul Reeves. In his 78 years he contributed hugely to his people to the community and to his country and he still had so much to give. To Lady Beverley and their children Sarah Bridget and Jane we extend our sympathies for your loss. But we also celebrate today a life of remarkable achievements. He was a boy of humble beginnings who rose to lead his church to be the Governor-General and to represent his country and the Commonwealth with distinction. He was the youngest-ever priest to become an Anglican bishop. He was the first church leader and the first Maori to become Governor-General. Later he served internationally with the United Nations and the Commonwealth. He headed the Nelson Mandela Foundation and he was the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s envoy to Guyana and Fiji. 
Sir Paul mixed easily with world leaders but he was equally at home with New Zealanders from all walks of life. He was a man of considerable principle and integrity. Sir Paul always expressed himself in a calm and measured way but underlying that was a real passion about the things that he believed in. He was not afraid to take a stand on issues that were important to him. He was one of the Citizens for Rowling in 1975 and in 1981 he openly and strongly opposed the Springbok Tour. That led some including the then Leader of the Opposition to express doubts about him and to oppose his appointment as Governor-General. But the way that Sir Paul carried out his role as Governor-General was in fact exemplary. He was a man of decency and strength of character. He spoke quietly but with deep conviction. As a Minister in the fourth Labour Government throughout his term as Governor-General and later as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the next Government I had many discussions with Sir Paul. He always expressed his views in a considered manner but he expressed them forthrightly. He had enormous compassion and an unwavering commitment to social justice. When his viceregal role came to an end he continued to contribute in education as the chancellor of AUT Auckland University of Technology in the diplomatic and international arena and as an advocate for his Te Atiawa people. 
With Sir Paul’s passing we have lost a very special New Zealander a man who gave so much to his community and a man whom we will remember as being true to his principles. We will miss him greatly. Ta Paora haere haere haere. 
Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM (Green) 
: 
 This nation mourns the death of Sir Paul Reeves. Put simply a totara has fallen in the forest. But the occasion of his passing although deeply sad to us all is not tragic; rather it is a cause for national celebration of a long life uniquely well lived. Sir Paul led as large a life as was possible full of fun laughter love and achievement. His personal fulfilment and thus his contribution was both spiritual and secular. 
Sir Paul saw himself characteristically as a child of the nation he loved. He once said: “I was a product of this country at a time when there was social mobility or educational opportunities available to everybody. I didn’t have the benefit of any material assets either personally or in my family. We were what you would call poor but yet I was able to go to secondary school and university. It is that question of access and the ability to match opportunities with an innate desire to achieve which is vital.” 
With the passage of time Sir Paul proved himself to be a vital person. Leadership is a subtle and elusive thing. When it is naturally present it is effortless; when it is absent it is laboured. Sir Paul had the gift of effortless leadership. He was humble yet dignified in style. He was genuine and authentic in person. He was fearless in expressing belief. He was truly a man of integrity. Sir Paul embodied all the values for which our parties in this House strive—freedom and aspiration equality and justice cultural harmony and ecological wisdom. In so doing he united us all through simply being himself the symbol of a nation as a whole. 
I first met Sir Paul in New York a few weeks after his arrival. He was virtually unknown in that huge anonymous preoccupied city after having just been head of State in his home country. Such a transition might have grated with some but not with Sir Paul who found it I think to be something of a liberation. Once over lunch for example he told me of a courtesy call he had just made on the ambassador of a close neighbour. Sir Paul described his assigned mission in the new Anglican office to the UN his hopes and aspirations and the various challenges he was anticipating. The ambassador heard him out patiently and then cut in and said: “Well that’s all fine Paul but tell me: what was your last job in New Zealand?”. 
Sir Paul did my wife and me the honour of assisting with our marriage some 20 years ago. He facilitated the arrangements for our wedding in Christchurch Cathedral and then officiated at our New York marriage celebrations shortly thereafter. He gave a special homespun dignity that day to what was a cosmopolitan and multi-faith grouping of friends in New York. We walked from the chapel through the streets of downtown Manhattan to our apartment across the road from the twin towers. I recall that moment in springtime as clearly as if it were yesterday. 
New Zealand has been well served with leadership over the years. Our leaders tend to be of the rugged individualist type—they who climb mountain tops and sail the Southern Ocean crawl into crushed buildings to hold a hand or rescue mates under military fire. Sir Paul gave us a different vision of leadership. It was a refined softer leadership that appealed to our better selves. It combined spiritual inquiry with secular wisdom. This type of leadership is rare in this land and we are the poorer for having lost him. Yet Sir Paul would admonish us if we were to lionise him beyond what he would take to be his natural measure to which I would reply: “All the more reason to respect and remember you Sir Paul.” 
Let us lay to rest this great New Zealander this humble man of our land who spoke so thoughtfully who stood so tall who loved so much. Let us pay our deep respect which we as a nation owe to Sir Paul Reeves. Let us then honour him in the manner he would wish by resolving to live up to the standards he set. 
Hon JOHN BOSCAWEN (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 I stand today along with all my colleagues in the ACT Party and in this House to pay tribute to one of our great statesmen. Sir Paul Reeves was a great New Zealander who served his country with distinction throughout his life. He served as Governor-General from 1985 to 1990 and was the first Maori and the first cleric to fill that position. Sir Paul lived a life of service to his congregation and to this nation. He was a deeply faithful man who took humble pride in his position within the Anglican Church. Sir Paul is remembered as an inspirational leader with a great sense of humour and wit—a man who was respectful compassionate and inclusive of others. 
In 1990 as Governor-General he hosted the first open day at Government House—a tradition that continues to this day—paving the way for greater transparency and inclusiveness in the role of the Governor-General. Following retirement as Governor-General Sir Paul continued to serve his country at the highest level for over two decades. He served his church as well as his country as the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in New Zealand and as assistant Bishop of New York. 
His life of dedication service and compassion holds lessons for us all. The thoughts and prayers of the ACT Party this House and indeed all New Zealanders are with his wife Lady Beverley Reeves his three daughters and his six grandchildren. Our nation is the poorer for his loss. 
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Maori Party—Waiariki) 
: 
Whatakaka te hau ki te uru 
Whakataka te hau ki te tonga 
Kia makinakina ki uta 
Kia mataratara ki tai 
E hi ake ana te atakura 
He tio he huka he hauhunga 
Tihei mauri ora! 
Kua tanuku te toka i te whenua. Kua hinga te totara o te wao. Kua ngu te kaiwhakarite o te Hahi. E Paora e moe. E te ringa raupa o te iwi e te kaituitui i te tangata e te kaikauhau o te rongopai e te kaiwero i nga Kawanatanga o te motu e te kaihapai o Te Titiriti o Waitangi e te kaikorero o Irihapeti e te tauira o te whakaiti me te rangimarie e te uri o Te Ati Awa e te kaikawe o te raukura ki nga topito katoa o te motu o te ao takoto mai takoto mai takoto mai. Whai atu koe e koro ki te ahuatanga o Tirikatene whai atu i a Te Atawhai Taiaroa a te Haunui whai atu i nga pihopa a te Manuhuia a te Whakahuihui whai atu i nga mate o na tata nei o tera o nga uri o Kahungungu a Meagan a Te Heikoko. No na tata nei te uri o Ngati Tuwharetoa haere koutou haere koutou haere koutou katoa.  
Ara no te korero o roto o Taranaki. He ngeri mana whenua te korero. Anei te korero: “Titiro titiro ki te maunga Titohea runga o Parihaka Waitotara. Ngati Moeahu Ngati Haupoto. Ko te takiritanga i te kahu o Wikitoria kaitoa kaitoa. Ko Tohu ko Te Whiti nga manu e rua i patu te hoariri ki te rangimarie kss aue kss aue! Ahakoa te pahuatanga o Parihaka ue ue ue ha!”. He korero tenei no roto o Taranaki ara no te whakapapa o te pihopa e takoto mai ra ki Tamaki-makau-rau.  
He pai tonu tenei rarangi korero i te mea ara no nga korero e pa ana ki a Ta Paora. I korero na tera o nga korero mo te maunga titohea ko Taranaki tera kakahutia e te hukahuka e te hukapapa. He tohu tera o te mate. Koia tenei whai i nga mate o Taranaki. Ko te Meringa Hohaia tera ko Lindsay MacLeod tera ko Matarena Rau-Kupa tera ko Tom Ellison tera nga uri o Te Atiawa tonu kua mate ina tata nei i te tau kua hipa ake. Kai reira ano hoki te korero mai mo Parihaka te kainga o te koroua nei te wahi i huihui ai nga iwi i nga tau kua hipa ake. Ara no nga marae tapu ko Parahuka ko Toroaanui ko Takitutu. Ara no te korero ko Waitotara te wai tuku kiri o nga matua nga tupuna e rere atu ra mai i Parihaka a ki te takutai moana. Ara no te korero mo te kahu o Wikitoria. He korero tera mo te ahuatanga o Ta Paora i te wa i a ia i mau nei te kakahu o Wikitoria hai Kawana Tianara mo te motu.  
He korero kai reira mo Te Whiti o Rongomai raua ko Tohu Kakahi. Ta ratau ko te kawe i tenei korero he honore he kororia he maungarongo ki te whenua he whakaaro pai ki nga tangata katoa. Ara ko te tauira tera o tenei mea o te rangimarie na Ta Paora tera i kawe ki nga topito katoa o te motu. I whai ia i te ahuatanga o nga poropiti nei. He aha he korero i tua atu atu? E ki ana te korero i patu te hoariri ki te rangimarie. Mena ka ata tiriro ki enei korero ka noho taupatupatu nga korero. Patu i te hoariri ki te rangimarie ara te korero nui. Koia Ta Paora i kawe nei te ahuatanga o te rangimarie ki te ao.  
Na te korero whakamutunga ahakoa te pahuatanga o Parihaka—ue ue ue ha! He whakamarama ake i te rangimarie o Taranaki ahakoa i patua ratau e te raupatu e te muru o te whenua he aha ta Taranaki? Kaua ki te hiki i te pu kao. Ko ta ratau ko te kawe i te ahuatanga o te korero o te Whiti o Rongomai raua ko Tohu Kakahi he rangimarie he rangimarie he rangimarie. He aha ta Ta Paora? He rangimarie he rangimarie he whakaiti. Koinei te korero nui ki a ia koia tena e takoto mai ra i Tamaki-makau-rau.  
Ko ta te Pati Maori he tautoko i nga poroporoaki nui ki a ia. Koia tera kua riro ki ona matua ki ona tupuna. E te Papa o te Motu e te ringa raupa o te iwi takoto mai takoto mai e moe. Ki te whanau e tautoko ake i nga ahuatanga o nga korero o te hunga kua tu ake i mua i a au ko te ki atu ki a ratau kia kaha kia toa kia manawanui. Kai wareware i a tatau Ta Paora koia tenei e whai i nga tapuwae o ratou kua ngaro. E koro takoto mai takoto mai takoto mai e moe. 
[ 
Cease the winds from the west 
Cease the winds from the south 
Let the piercing cold winds blow over the land 
And the intensely cold winds blow over the ocean 
As it heralds a red-tipped dawn  
With a sharpened air a touch of frost a promise of a glorious day. 
Behold the breath of life! 
The rock has crumbled to the ground. The great totara of the forest has fallen. An archbishop of the Anglican Church has been silenced. Sir Paul rest. To the worker with chafed hands of the people the challenger of the nation’s Governments the one who raised the profile of the Treaty of Waitangi Queen Elizabeth’s representative the epitome of humility and tranquillity the descendant of Te Ati Awa the bearer of the legacy to all extremities of the country and the world lie there rest there recline there. Sir your death follows the deaths of Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan Te Atawhai Taiaroa Tione Haunui bishops Manuhuia Bennett and Te Whakahuihui Vercoe; the recent ones of Ngati Kahungunu Meagan Joe and Te Heikoko Mataira; and only a few days ago a descendant of Ngati Tuwharetoa Dean Stebbing passed away as well. So to all of you farewell. 
There is an aphorism in Taranaki. It is derived from a rhythmic chant with actions. Here it is: “Gaze towards the barren mountain above Parihaka and the Waitotara River Ngati Moeahu and Ngati Haupoto. It is the casting aside of Queen Victoria’s cloak; good riddance good job. Tohu and Te Whiti were the two prophets who defeated the enemy with peace. Kss oh kss oh! Despite the plundering of Parihaka the blows have landed the blows have landed. Ow!”. This is a maxim from within Taranaki and from the genealogy of the bishop who is lying there in Auckland.  
The line that this saying takes is a good one because so much of it is about Sir Paul. It speaks about a barren mountain which is Taranaki being cloaked in snow. That is a sign of death. This death then follows the deaths of Taranaki in regard to Te Meringa Hohaia Lindsay MacLeod Matarena Rau-Kupa and Tom Ellison actual decendants of Te Atiawa who have passed away over the past year. It mentions Parihaka the home of that elder the place where people gathered in past years. There were other sacred marae mentioned: Parahuka Toroaanui and Takitutu. It describes the Waitotara River as being the conveyor of the ancestors from Parihaka to the sea. It mentions the cloak of Queen Victoria which pertains to the time when Sir Paul was the Governor-General of the country.  
The maxim also mentions Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi. Those two preached the message of honour glory peace on the land and goodwill to all people. Sir Paul was the epitome of peace and carried that message to all extremities of the country. He followed the example of these two prophets. What more can be said? According to the proverb the enemy was defeated through peaceful means. If one looks closely at these words the message contradicts itself. Defeating the enemy through peaceful means is the important message. And Sir Paul carried that message to the world.  
The final statement is that despite the plundering of Parihaka—“the blows have landed the blows have landed. Ow!”—to further demonstrate Taranaki’s peace it should be noted that even though they were hurt and affected by the confiscation of land what did Taranaki do? They did not pick up the gun no. What they did instead was to pick up what Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi preached which was peace peace peace. What did Sir Paul advocate? Peace peace humility. This was the greatest thing to him. He who lies there in state in Auckland is an epitome of that.  
The Maori Party endorses the great farewell tributes being made to him. He is the one who has gone to his forefathers his ancestors. To the Father of the Nation the worker with chafed hands of the people lie there rest there sleep. To the family I endorse the tenor of the tributes expressed by those who stood before me. I urge them to be strong courageous and stout-hearted. Lest we forget this is Sir Paul the one who now follows the footsteps of those who are gone. O elderly one lie there rest there recline there sleep. 
] 
Hon RICK BARKER (Senior Whip—Labour) 
: 
 I seek leave to table a contribution to this debate by the Hon Jim Anderton leader of Jim Anderton’s Progressive party and for the contribution to be included in the parliamentary record given that Mr Anderton is currently delayed in Christchurch by the weather. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought for that course of action. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
I join with the House in expressing our sadness at the passing of Paul Reeves and in expressing condolences to his family. 
As our Governor-General he helped to bring New Zealand into a new era because he was so obviously different to those before him. 
He was the first Maori to hold the position and the first to come to the job from outside the customary establishment diplomatic and legal circles.  
And more than that he had a highly developed sense of social awareness and he was not afraid to express his thoughts.  
He was our first Governor-General to have grown up after the Depression of the thirties and like so many others who came of age in that time he was influenced by the change it made to New Zealand and the way we think about ourselves.  
Throughout his life he identified with the cause of social and economic justice. He came from a modest family background and never allowed himself to forget that.  
He knew from simply growing up and looking around that economic adversity and social exclusion can wound deeply and that we owe it to everyone born into our communities to give them as equal as possible a start in life the sort of fair go society that most New Zealanders want to live in and which is one of our most admirable achievements.  
He spoke out against division—between rich and poor and against racial divisiveness.  
He was not afraid to push the limits of his constitutional position and its conventions and to make himself felt in political areas where his predecessors would have been reluctant to tread.  
I’m sure too that often his words would have irritated politicians and yet he spoke always with such charm and good humour that they couldn’t possibly take public issue with him even if he was subtly but effectively chiding them.  
He was always able to make his point effectively and to cause those he was addressing to pause and to take stock without giving offence.  
But above all he wore his talents lightly because Paul Reeves had that one thing above all else which marks out those who serve us best—his modesty.  
Truly with his passing a mighty totara has fallen.  
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 There was an awesome dignity about Sir Paul that struck one the first time one met him. At times it could be taken to perhaps belie the force of personality and the force of conviction that came with Sir Paul but in many senses he was the perfect choice to be the Governor-General of New Zealand during the 1980s. 
At a time when this country had gone through periods of great division and tension he showed that it was possible to hold strong views and to promote strong views not only forcefully and courageously but with a dignity and an honour that would garner respect from even his most bitter opponents. So it proved to be during the time he was Governor-General of New Zealand. He spoke out fearlessly on many issues. He provided the leadership he had spoken of—courage with dignity—and he brought New Zealanders with him to become one of our more revered figures in that role. 
But there was another side to Sir Paul. There was a fearsome sense of humour and an extraordinary laugh that would break out when a joke was cracked or some funny situation had occurred which showed that this man not only possessed dignity and a very serious side but had a very warm and personal side as well. 
I want to recall for the House a particular incident which I was privileged to be part of that I think demonstrates all of these things. Members will be familiar with ceremonies in which ambassadors come to present their credentials. One such ceremony occurred with three ambassadors from countries not connected to each other. The only common link between all three was a minimal knowledge of English. We worked our way through the official ceremony and the luncheon that followed. Sir Paul was at his best trying to make small talk with people who understood very little other than that they were in Wellington New Zealand. He tried every known tack imaginable with dignity and courtesy and got solid smiles of rebuff from across the table. Finally at dessert he said to them: “My next appointment is to go to a bird sanctuary”—which mean absolutely nothing to the audience—“to name two new kiwis.” 
The word “kiwi” triggered a reaction in the three diplomatic officials. It was the one word of English they knew and they sparked to life and said: “Ah; kiwi kiwi.” Sir Paul then turned to the New Zealanders present and said: “Yes. I’m going to name them after two famous New Zealanders.” The signs of blankness reappeared on the faces of the audience and he said: “I’m going to call one ‘Kiwi Te Kanawa’ and the other ‘Kiwi T James’.” which got a huge reaction from the New Zealanders but obviously did not really register on the faces of his audience. 
It summed up for me what Sir Paul was—this man who had carried out his solemn office with dignity and responsibility. He had shown extraordinary courtesy and tolerance to people who were really struggling on the occasion but at the same time there was a massive sense of humour that he could not resist employing; having a good laugh at the end of it. 
When we think about Sir Paul’s contribution to our national life over the last several decades—because it really has been a very long contribution—we have to recall with pride the vision the leadership the integrity and the commitment but also the fact that he remained throughout it essentially himself. He never took on airs and graces. He never succumbed to that great Kiwi disease of being up himself. He was a simple man who was confident in his views confident in his abilities and sought to do his best for his fellow New Zealanders. 
We have truly lost one of our greatest citizens. I extend my sympathy to Lady Reeves and the family on their loss and hope that they can derive some small consolation at this time from the knowledge that their husband and father was held in near-universal regard across this country. And that is the ultimate tribute New Zealanders can pay to him. 
HONE HARAWIRA (Leader—Mana) 
: 
 Tena ra e te Kaiw’akawa. Hoi ano he korero ki te kaiw’akamarama ki te w’akapakeha i taku korero tuatahi he tauparapara mai i te kainga mai i Muriwhenua. No reira:  
Ruia ruia opea opea 
Miria miria tahia tahia 
Kia hemo te kakoakoa 
Kia herea mai i te kawau koroki 
Kia tataki mai i roto i te pukorokoro whaikaro 
He kuaka marangaranga 
Tahi te manu i tau atu ki te tahuna tau atu tau atu tau atu. 
Ko to tatou pihopa kua tau atu ki tena taha e te iwi kua tau atu ki tena taha o te moana. Kua tau atu ki tua o te arai kua tau atu ki roto i a matou o Muriwhenua a kua tau atu ki Te Rerenga Wairua. Kia rukuhia i nga rimurimu kia ngaro atu ki Hawaiki nui Hawaiki roa Hawaiki pamamao. No reira haere a te pihopa haere haere ngaro atu.  
Tautoko kaha ana au i tera o nga poroporoaki a taku whanaunga a Te Ururoa i huaina mai i nga ingoa o ratou kua ngaro atu i mua noa atu i to tatou pihopa i te ra nei. E tika ana kia mihi atu ki to tatou pihopa i te mea ano hoki hara tana tohu rangatira i te tohu o te kaha o te reo o te kaha o tona whawhai engari ko te kaha o tona humarie. He tangata aroha ana ki nga iwi hakoa ko wai hakoa no hea. He tangata aroha ana ki a matou nga tangata hikoi ana runga i te mata o te whenua. He tangata tautoko ana i te kaupapa kia whakakahoretia i nga mahi kaikiri i roto o Aotearoa i nga wahi katoa o te ao. He tangata e tautoka ana i tona iwi ara ko te pani me te rawakore. No reira e tika ana kia mihi atu tatou katoa ki a ia mo ona ahuaranga.  
Hoki mahara atu ki te wa tuatahi i tutaki au ki a ia. Ko te ra i korowaingia te pihopa hei Pihopa mo Tamaki-makau-rau. I tenei ra kua hoki ano ra a ia ki tera o nga wahi i raro i te maru o te whare karakia o te marae o te Tatai Hono i Tamaki-makau-rau no reira e mihi atu ki a ia e hoki mai nei ki roto i a matou o Tamaki mai i aua wa ki tenei wa. No reira e te pihopa takoto mai takoto mai takoto mai. Takoto mai ano ra roto i a ratou kua hoana ke takoto mai ra ki roto i tera o nga whare o te Tatai Hono.  
Me te mihi ano hoki ki taku w’anaunga a Shane Jones e noho ana ki te taumata i tenei wa e w’akarangatira i nga korero mo tenei o nga tino pou o te hahi Mihinare nga tino pou o to tatou whenua o Aotearoa. No reira mihi atu ki te whanaunga e kawe ana i tera o nga kaupapa.  
Hoki mai ano ra ki a tatou e te Whare tatou katoa e mihi ana ki te rangatira o te motu kua ngaro atu i a tatou. Tena koutou tena koutou huri rauna kia ora tatou katoa. 
[ 
Thank you Mr Speaker. I need to advise the interpreter that the first part of my address is an incantation from home from the far north and it goes: 
Scatter scatter move together move together 
Hug the coast run in sweep it 
Let us rejoice 
Tie up the chattering shag 
The rope has been stretched out and fastened 
The godwits have risen and flown 
One has landed upon the beach 
Others follow and land as well. 
Our bishop has landed on that side people on that side of the sea beyond the divide. He has landed amongst us of the far north at the departing place of the spirits at Cape Reinga. There he will plunge into the tide the seaweed and disappear to great Hawaiki long Hawaiki and distant Hawaiki. So farewell o bishop. Depart go forth and be lost from view. 
I strongly endorse the farewell tribute today by my kin Te Ururoa Flavell who mentioned all those who had preceded our bishop. It is appropriate that I pay a tribute to our bishop because he did not stand out for being an outspoken person or a fighter but rather because of his humility. He was one who loved all people regardless of who they were or where they were from. He sympathised with those of us who marched in protest across the land. He supported the cause to rid New Zealand and indeed the world of racism. He supported his people the alienated and the dispossessed. So it is fitting that we acknowledge everything about him.  
I remember the first time I met him; it was the day when he was appointed Bishop of Auckland. He returns today to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre's Tatai Hono Marae in Auckland so I acknowledge his being amongst us in Auckland once again after all that time. To the bishop I say lie there rest there and recline. Rest there once again amongst those who preceded you. Rest in that building on Tatai Hono Marae. 
I acknowledge my relation Shane Jones as well who is back at the top at this moment and adding to the tributes to this great pillar of the Anglican faith and of our country. My acknowledgments go to my relation for what he is doing.  
I come back once again to us in the House to all of us as we pay a tribute to the esteemed one of the nation who is lost from us. So greetings to you greetings to you collectively and greetings to us all. 
] 
Motion agreed to.