March 06, 2019
Heta Tobin led from the heart
Ngāti Whātua and Te Paatu have lost a champion and a devoted servant with the death of Heta Tobin.
The Vietnam veteran was brought up in the far north but spent much of his life in west Auckland, where he was well known for a range of community and marae roles.
Ngāti Whātua leader Dame Rangimarie Naida Glavish says he had a keen interest in maintaining the dialect of Taitokerau.
She says he stood out for his dedication.
"His contribution has always been Heta from the heart and he didn't give too much notice whether anybody apporved or agreed or what. He did what he did from the heart. He didn't listen too much to anybody anyway," Dame Rangimarie says.
Heta Tobin will be taken back to Te Paatu Marae in Pamapuria near Kaitaia this afternoon.
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