Sir Archie Taiaroa

Whakapukepuke ai nga wai o Whanganui i te rukunga o tana tupua ki tōna tūturutanga, koia ko Tā Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa (3 o Kohitātea 1937 – 21 o Māhuru 2010). I hinga a ia i te takutai awa o Waikato, kia wai kato tōna hoe ki te nui, ki te rahi o ngā rārangi mātua.

Nō reira, kauria tō awa mai i tōna koropūpūnga i te Hokowhitū-a-Rākeipoho, rere iho ki ngā wai-inuinu a Ruatipua. Ka tupu, ka tupua te wai, ko koe tēnā e te Awa Tupua, e rere! Nāu a roimata te kore i whakamoe, mo tō awa te take, inā e whai tonu nei i tōna ia mōu anō, e te Awanui-a-Rua.

Hei tēnei pō, Tūrei 21 o Māhuru, ka takoto te matua ki Tūrangawaewae. Hei te ahiahi o te Wenerei 22 o Māhuru ka tatū te ope ringiringi me te tama roroa a Hinengākau ki tōna marae ki Ngāpūwaiwaha, Taumarunui, mā reira ngā muka e toru: a Tūwharetoa, a Maniapoto, a Whanganui e tangi tahi ai, ā, ka wātea te marae mo te motu mo ngā rā e whai ake.

Hei te 10 o ngā haora o te ata, rāhōroi 25 o Māhuru 2010 te karakia whakatere i te waka o te matua nei ki tōna marae kei Ngāpūwaiwaha. Ā, ka herea tōna waka ki tai, ki te urupā kei Poumaanu, Tawatā.
The waters of Whanganui churn with anguish at the passing of its sentinel and elder statesman, Sir Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa (3 Jan 1937 – 21 Sept 2010). Te Atawhai passed over swiftly to the embrace of his ancestors at Waikato Hospital at 6.30pm on Tuesday 21 September 2010.

So return Te Atawhai to Te Hokowhitu-a-Rākeipoho, the River’s font upon Tongariro and pass within the drinking waters of your tupuna Ruatipua. As one do you now flow; continue to surge onward as Te Awa Tupua. Your tireless fight for your River Te Atawhai was not in vain – your people will carry on your passion and determination for Te Awanui-a-Rua.

At the invitation of King Tūheitia, Te Atawhai will lie in state at Tūrangawaewae Marae tonight, Tuesday 21 September 2010. On Wednesday 22 September, mid afternoon, Te Atawhai will arrive home to Ngāpūwaiwaha Marae, Taumarunui where his three tribes: Ngati Tūwharetoa, Ngati Maniapoto and Whanganui will lament his passing. The following days will be left for the motu to pay their respects. On Saturday 25 September 2010 his funeral service will be held at 10am followed by interment downstream at Poumaanu Urupā, Tawatā.