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Download AudioTe Whānau ā Apanui is today saying its farewells to Tā Wira Gardiner, who was living among his people in Te Kaha before his death yesterday at the age of 78.
Family spokesperson Willie Te Aho says Tā Wira was Te Whānau a Te Ēhutu through his mother, so he will spend tonight at Te Kaha-nui-a-tiki marae before being taken to Ngāti Awa in Whakatane tomorrow.
In line with his concerns about the spread of Covid-19, the tangi is for whānau members, and tight restrictions apply.
“Uncle was a sticker to the kaupapa of Te Whānau ā Apanui. There will only be 35 people. They will be on a list that goes to the Te Kaha Health Clinic. People will have to have the RAT test there. The clinic will ring me and I’m the policeman on the gate today and once they’ve got clearance from the health clinic they can come through the gate and join the tangi,” Mr Te Aho says.
When conditions allow there will be a memorial service for Tā Wira, so those from the many worlds he walked in including the army, the public service, Māoridom and the National Party can acknowledge his passing.
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