Paraone Pita: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
Paraone Pita: Obituaries — Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 
[Volume:633;Page:4739] 
PITA PARAONE (NZ First) 
: 
 E te Kaiwhakawa o te Whare nga kaiarahi o ia ropu torangapu o tenei wahi tatou hoki nga mema tena koutou. Tainui waka Tainui tangata kei te tu tenei iti nei i roto i 
te whakakotahi i a matou i roto i nga mihi i mihia e nga rangatira o te Whare nei 
.  
Mai matou o Ngati Wai Ngati Porou Ngati Hine nga uri o te Endeavour mai i te Ropu nei i a Aotearoa Tuatahi he reo mihi tenei ki te “Whare Kahui” na te mea kei runga i a koutou puta noa i te motu te kakahu taratara e tarea. Kei te tu mokemoke noho hoki i roto i te pouritanga i a matou o te Ropu nei tatou te ao Maori ara tatou o te motu nei i roto o te pakeketanga o te wa ki te ngarotanga o tatou Arikinui. Kua ngaro ki a tatou Te Arikinui te pouhere tangata o te ao Maori ko te Kuini Maori te Pairu Te Atairangikaahu o te motu nei. E kore taea nga korero mona ahakoa kei te mihi tonu te motu ki tona wehenga ki te wahi ngaro ki te hui o nga kahurangi. E kore mimiti te puna korero mona. E ai ki te korero e ngaro atu i a ia ki wiwi ki wawa ki te putahitanga o Rehua te huinga o nga kahurangi oti atu ki te ao wairua. No reira e taku Arikinui te uri o nga kawai rangatira o te ao Maori haere haere haere atu ra. 
E tika ana kia patai te patai ko wai tenei e iti nei ki te whakauru mai i roto enei korero o te Whare. Ahakoa kei te ahua mataku mo tenei tu i whiwhi ki a au kei te maumahara te ahuatanga o tenei Arikinui. He wahine tu kaha he wahine humarie he wahine tino kaha ki te whakapono ki tona Matua nui i te Rangi. He wahine manaaki tangata he wahine ngakau nui ki nga tangata katoa te iti me te rahi. Na i roto i tena tu momo ahuatanga kahore kau ke e tenei e mataku tonu. 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
To you the Speaker of the House leaders of each political party and members greetings to you all. Tainui canoe and Tainui tribe: I stand before you in humility as I join the other leaders in this House who have spoken. Condolences from us of Ngati Wai Ngati Porou Ngati Hine descendants of the Endeavour and from this party of New Zealand First to the “House of Chiefs” because indeed upon the rest of us hangs the tattered cloth of death. We of this party along with Maori and indeed the rest of New Zealand are left bereft and sad at this difficult time with the loss of our great chieftainess. Our great chieftainess the pillar that binds Maoridom together the Maori Queen the Sovereign Te Atairangikaahu of this land is lost to us. There are not enough words to acknowledge her although the country continues to speak of her departure to the hidden place to the meeting-place of the distinguished. The pool of tributes about her will never run out. In keeping with the proverb she is lost to here and everywhere at the congruence of Antares—the gathering-place of the highborn—and forever to the spiritual world. So my great chieftainess the descendant of the chiefs of the Maori world depart farewell depart. 
It is right to ask why this lowly one should be participating in these tributes by the House. Even though I am somewhat anxious about my right to stand at this point in the proceedings the characteristics of this chieftainess will remain with me; she was a woman who was resolute modest and had great faith in the Almighty Above. She was a chiefly woman who cared for people from all walks of life. Because of those attributes of hers I am no longer anxious. 
] 
New Zealand First joins all parties in this House in expressing our condolences to the family of Dame Te Ata the Tainui people and indeed the wider Maori and New Zealand populations as we reflect on her passing last week. New Zealand First is a party that respects tradition and Dame Te Ata embodied all that was good about the traditions of Maoridom. In many ways she was a bridge between the traditions of the past and their manifestations in contemporary life. 
She was a woman of grace and dignity. Indeed she shaped her life to give it a quality and distinction all of its own. Hers is a legacy of humble service resilience and a determined will to see her people succeed. Such were her status and her feeling of duty to Maori and the people of New Zealand that world leaders often made it their practice to call upon her and she was always a gracious host. Having been in her company such people left thinking better of Maori and indeed New Zealand. In this sense she was a genuine national treasure. 
Her ascension to the mantle of Maori Queen came at a time when few women held positions of power. In many ways she was a trailblazer for both women and Maori. Her tenure was a time of great renaissance among Maori as their language and culture flourished and became distinctive features of New Zealand’s identity. 
Perhaps the crowning moment of her career—and there were many—was the signing of Tainui’s Treaty claim signifying her people’s desire to move on and embrace a bright future. It was a time of healing of looking forward with hope and of unifying the peoples of this nation. Dame Te Ata had a central role to play in that process. 
If there was any question as to her stature it was made crystal clear by many tens of thousands attending her tangi—Maori Pakeha visitors from every corner of the globe all coming to say their farewell to this great woman. Her influence permeated far beyond these shores and her deeds will forever be remembered among her people. 
Maoridom has chosen a new king and New Zealand First welcomes the ascension of Te Arikinui Tuheitia Paki. He is a humble man who has inherited the quiet dignity of his mother. His challenge is indeed a large one but so too is his capacity to rise to that challenge. 
So while we mourn the passing of a great leader and a unifying force we also reflect and celebrate all that she achieved. It is occasions like this which add to our sense of nationhood that highlight the ties that bind us. Dame Te Ata we bid you farewell. 
Waiata 
I roto i nga korero whakamutunga ka apiti hono tatai hono koutou e rere atu ki tua o Paerau moe moe mai i te roto Te Ariki. Tatou nga mahuetanga nga maramara o te hunga kua moe tatou e mahue ki te kawe i te kaupapa i wharikihia i a ratou tena koutou tena koutou tena tatou katoa. 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
And in conclusion to you traversing over Paerau bound as we are to each other in life and death sleep on with the Lord. To us the remnants and the ones left behind to carry out what they who have passed on left us to do greetings greetings and greetings to us all. 
]