July 03, 2014
Manaakitanga at heart of rangatira’s life
Ngai Tahu has gathered at Tuahiwi Marae near Christchurch to farewell its rangatira Rakiihia Tau, who died in hospital in Auckland on Monday at the age of 73.
Mr Tau lodged Ngati Tahu’s historic treaty claim with the Waitangi Tribunal in 1986 and was a lead negotiator for its settlement.
He worked tirelessly for his iwi and his community, including serving on the Rangiora County Council.
His daughter in law Amiria Rereti says he embodied manaakitanga.
" So he was this extraordinaire hunter gatherer of mutton bird, eels, flounders anything that had legs and wings he could kill and strap that up so that you can feed the people. That really was his mainstay. How to manaaki and look after everyone. You'd go up to his house sure enough there was always a pot brewing on the stove mutton birds or whitebait frying in the pan that's how Ric was " she says.
The funeral service for Ric Tau will start at 1 on Saturday, after with he will be buried alongisde with his ancestors at Te Uruti urupa.
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