January 25, 2017
Nikora had eye for better future
A Tuhoe leader who advanced the interest of Maori landowners nationwide has been laid to rest among his ancestors.
Tamaroa Nikora died on Saturday aged 84.
Paul Morgan, the chair of Nelson's Wakatu Incorporation, first encountered Mr Nikora in the 1980s when he played a leading role organising Maori landowners into the federation of Maori Authorities.
His work as a surveyor had given him a huge depth of knowledge about land issues, which combined with his keen intelligence and ability to come up with innovative solutions made him a powerful advocate for Maori.
He was the FOMA representative in the negotiations for the Crown Forest Rental Trust that had led to more than 600,000 hectares of forest land and its rental streams going to Maori, and he also played a major role in the final shape of the 1992 Te Ture Whenua Maori Act.
"He was very much focused on Maori looking into the future and how they could organise themselves to have a better future Fantastic in the language and his understanding of history and culture and living it and we enjoyed as colleagues the many times we came together and worked together on the big kaupapa of the day," Mr Morgan says.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH PAUL MORGAN
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