Navy Today May 09 | Issue 143 - Royal New Zealand Navy

TE TAUA MOANA MARAE
MC 09-0118-006
MC 09-0118-014
disembarked to Te Taua Moana Marae for the
memorial service. The marae was set up as for
a tangi, and the memorial service commenced
with our Navy taua (warriors) carrying the late
Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikahu’s spirit on to the
marae to the karanga (spirital calling) of four
of our ladies. This was a solem and emotional
time for all in attendence. Te Arikinui Tuheitia
and the whanau pani (the grieving family members)
were seated with the Kawe Mate on the
mahau (verandah).
There were hymns and prayers and many
wonderful speeches paying homage to the
A vigil was kept with the Kawe Mate, the photo of the late
Arikinui. LWTR Sheryl Jones (left) as a young girl had assisted
the late Dame Te Atairangikahu at the opening of our marae, so
she and Whenua Mcgarvey (no Tainui) joined the whanau pani
life and work of the late Arikinui by kaumatua
and leaders of Te Taua Moana, Tainui, and the
Member of Parliament for the North Shore,
Dr Wayne Mapp. The waiata tautoko (songs
to support) were performed by a combined
Our Naval taua (warriors)
carry the late Arikinui
Dame Te Atairangikahu’s
spirit on to the marae
opened Te Taua Moana Marae. In December
2005 she sailed in ‘her’ ship Te Mana for what
was the final time, as her health was failing.
Dame Te Atairangikahu passed away on 15
August 2006. The tangihana (funeral) included
a week of mourning leading to her being carried
on a waka down her beloved Waikato
River and laid to rest on Taupiri Mountain on
21 August 2006. Although many Navy personnel
attended the tangihana over the week, not
all could, especially the ship’s company of Te
Mana (deployed from NZ, then).
It was decided that to give Naval personnel,
Te Mana’s company and our ex-sailors an opportunity
to mourn her passing, would bring her
spirit, her Kawe Mate, (in the form of a picture)
back to Devonport on 30 March. So that day
her son, Te Arikinui (Maori King) Tuheitia Paki
accompanied by his wife and family, and his
VIP party of Tainui kaumatua and kuia, embarked
in Te Mana at the port of Tauranga for
passage to Auckland. They were met on board
by CN, MCC, MCA and our Navy kaumatua
and kuia. [See Te Mana’s report, page 26.] Te
Arikinui and his entourage were able to remind
the crew of the privilege they have of carrying
such a meaningful and strong name for the
ship, Te Mana.
On berthing at Devonport, the Kawe Mate,
Te Arikinui Tuheitia Paki and the VIP party
cultural group comprised of members from
Philomel, Te Mana, our other ships and our
ex-sailors.
A long hongi line then formed and warm and
heartfelt greetings were exchanged. While the
manuhiri (visitors) commenced their meal the
combined cultural group performed on the
deck between the wharenui and wharekai. We
had so many guests that some of them dined
over at the Ngataringa Sport Complex and the
cultural group joined them over there to eat and
entertain them.
The ceremony was a very special experience
and an occasion of great privilege for our sailors
past and present.
for Dame Te Atairangikahu ONZ, DBE
By CPOWTR Deborah Barton, Marae Coordinator
MC 09-0119-031
MC 09-0119-032
Dame Te Atairangikahu ONZ, DBE was the Maori Queen for the
longest reign of any Maori monarch. Her title Te Arikinui (Great Chief)
and name Te Atairangikahu (the hawk of the morning sun), which
was also her mother’s name, were bestowed upon her when she
became the Maori monarch. She was an avid supporter of cultural
and sporting events and often appeared in a figurehead role at NZhosted
international political events. Dame Te Atairangikahu was the
Lady Sponsor of HMNZS Te Mana and she opened Te Taua Moana
Marae on 15 April 2000. Dame Te Atairangikahu passed away on
Waiho, kia tangi matou ki taku tupapaku – let
us pause and mourn our dearly departed
Ever since the formation of the Kingitanga
movement over 152 years ago, there has always
been a close association with the Navy
and the tribes supporting the movement (although
some the interaction was not as friends
in the early years!) The fifth Arikinui, Dame Te
Atairangikahu ONZ, DBE ruled for 40 years
and was the first female in this important role.
During her reign the late Arikinui (Maori Queen)
15 August 2006 which was followed by a week of mourning leading
to her Tangihana on 21 August 2006 [see NT 114 Sept 06]. Her
Kawe Mate (taking of the spirit of the deceased) was held Monday
30 March at Te Taua Moana Marae, providing an opportunity for the
whanau (family) and naval personnel to mourn her passing.
played an important part of our naval history by
being our Lady Sponsor of HMNZS Te Mana,
attending the ceremony in Melbourne where
she named and launched the frigate in 1997,
and the commissioning, in Tauranga, in 1999.
These links were further strengthened when she
Tainui kaumatua reply to
the whaikorero (ORATORY)
Kaumatua Bruce Pukepuke Dr Wayne Mapp, RA
Ledson and WO Pirikahu during the whaikorero
18 NT143MAY09 WWW.NAVY.MIL.NZ
WWW.NAVY.MIL.NZ NT143MAY09 19