October 31, 2022
Tūwharetoa māngai Pitiroi preserved ancient tales
Former MP Louisa Wall says the late Tūwharetoa elder Te Kanawa Pitiroi has left a legacy of stories.
Mr Pitiroi died last week aged 83.
Ms Wall says he was raised by his grandfather and first spoke on the paepae when he was 19.
A softly-spoken man, he was called back from Tāmaki Makaurau to Taupō later in life to be the māngai for the iwi and for ariki Tā Tumu te Heuheu.
“He’s somebody we will miss hugely but he’s left some tohu for our mokopuna. He’s been writing a series about Mauī and other stories for our mokopuna so stories we at Tūwherotoa hold dear to us captured for future generations so he’s dedicated the last years of his life to do that,” Ms Wall says.
The funeral services for Te Kanawa Ruka Pitiroi is being held today at Waitetoko Marae in Tūrangi.