Poroporoaki: Gerry Merito

Kua tau te kohu ki runga o te Urewera

Kua mutu te tangi a nga manu i te ngahere

Gerry, e te poupou o te tokowha kaiwaiata rongonui nei, kua hinga koe, takoto mai, takoto mai, moe mai ra.

Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Awa, kei te tangi te ngakau ki te reo reka kua ngu, ki te rakuraku e kore e whakatangihia, ki te tangata whakatoi kua tiraha ki waenganui i a koutou.

Minister of Maori Affairs Dr Pita Sharples has paid tribute to Gerry Merito, the foundation member of the Howard Morrison Quartet who passed away over the weekend.

“My heart goes out to Gerry’s family in their grief, and to the iwi of Mataatua who have lost a famous son.

“But really, all New Zealanders can mourn the death of a part of their heritage. Gerry’s genius on the guitar, and his irrepressible humour, launched the Howard Morrison Quartet to world fame in the early 1960s. They were part of us, our national culture, our favourite entertainers and showmen.

“Howard was the front man, the undisputed leader, but Gerry was a rock and foundation for their success. He wrote the words of their top-selling song ‘My Old Man’s an All Black’ – a parody of ‘My Old Man’s a Dustman’.

Oh, my old man's an All Black,
He wears the silver fern,
But his mates just couldn't take him
So he's out now for a turn.

“Gerry’s sharp dig at the whites-only selection policy of the NZRFU during the era of apartheid rugby in South Africa reflected the spirit of the ‘No Maoris, No Tour’ protests, that foreshadowed the end of the regime.

“Gerry taught himself the guitar during his years in hospital as a child, suffering from a bone disease. Commentators have said he could be the most influential guitarist Aotearoa has ever produced.

“That genius kept drawing the crowds to the end. Gerry died on tour, of a heart attack. Long may his spirit live on, through his own music, and his inspirational style,” said Dr Sharples.

For info contact: Andrew Robb, Press Secretary 029- 482 8494