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Apirana Mahuika has joined his ancestors.
The late Ngati Porou leader was buried this afternoon at his family urupa Kaitaha.
He died on Monday aged 80.
His tangi at Rahui Marae in Tikitiki drew many hundreds of people wanting to pay their last respects to a man who has played many prominent roles in te ao Maori over the past half century, including cleric, teacher, scholar, farmer, negotiator, and leader of national and tribal roopu.
Radio Waatea’s Kingi Taurua says the size of the tangi caught Ngati Porou by surprise.
He paid his own tribute to a man he interviewed scores of times.
"Api Mahuika was the pou tokomanawa of Maori radio, Maori language. Api was a great supporter of Radio Waatea, and whenever we wanted comment we would ring Api and he was always willing to oblige both in te reo Maori and te reo Pakeha," Mr Taurua says.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH KINGI TAURUA CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjYyOTI=
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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