January 22, 2017
Waka Kai Ora founder Percy Tipene passes away.
A totara of Ngati Hine has fallen.
Percy Tipene passed away in Whangarei Hospital yesterday after a series of strokes.
He was 64.
Mr Tipene created and led Maori organic growers’ roopu Te Waka Kai Ora, as well as the sustainability organisaton Hua Parakore.
He was trained as a farm cadet and worked as a sharemilker, a quarantine officer and a livestock advisor for the Ministry of Agriculture before developing his own Hokianga farm.
As well as promoting indigenous food sovereignty, Mr Tipene was an advocate for traditional medicines or rongoa Maori in the health system.
He was to be taken to Miria Marae in Waiomio and then Motatau Marae.
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