November 16, 2022
Memorial service for Ta Wira Gardiner
Soldier, public servant, family man, Ta Harawira Tiri Gardiner’s many achievements is being acknowledged a memorial service at St Paul’s Cathedral in Wellington today.
Ta Wira died in March aged 77 of a brain tumour, but the tangi was restricted to whanau because of Covid conditions.
Maori Development Minister Willie Jackson says Ta Wira gave him valuable support when he was first appointed to the portfolio, and he was highly regarded by governments of both the left and right as a go-between, especially on Maori matters.
“He was in my view probably the best Maori bureaucrat we have ever seen. But of course he was more than that – he stood in politics, he was the first CEO of Te Puni Kokiri, he was an officer in the army and he was a great father and husband so we were lucky to have Wira Gardiner in our presence,” he says.
After the lunchtime service there will be a korowai presented at Te Puni Kokiri in honour of Ta Wira.