August 06, 2020
Wāhine made contribution to arts and community in Te Waipounamu
Māori in Te Waipounamu are mourning the deaths of two prominent wahine.
In Bluff, Huhana Pokiri Morgan died aged 65.
From the Bradshaw whānau, she was for many years the chair of the Awarua Rūnaka and with her sister Maria Tini made a huge contribution to the cultural renaissance of the southern Ngāi Tahu people.
An accomplished weaver of tāniko, whatu muka and kete whakairo, in 2015 she received Ngā Tohu ā Tā Kingi Ihaka award for her leadership and outstanding contributions to Māori art.
In Ōtautahi, the community was shocked by the death in her 40s of Rochelle Paki, a leading member of Te Kotahitanga kapa haka and a kaitakawaenga at Christchurch City Council.
Helen Leahy from whānau ora commissioning agency Te Pūtahitanga says she has been taken back to Whangaehu near Whanganui.
"When women of that ilk before their time pass away we really feel for the families and of course the loss of Auntie Hana in Bluff, who was very strong, principled, a beautiful weaver, had a very clear view of the influence of tikanga and how the legacy of tūpuna deserves to be honoured so both those women are sadly missed," she says.
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