January 26, 2023
Harawira insightful mentor for Ngapuhi’s Mangu
Former Ngapuhi chair Mere Mangu says the late Titewhai Harawira was her most important mentor.
The veteran activist died yesterday aged 90 and is lying at Hoani Waititi Marae in west Auckland before returning north on the weekend.
Ms Mangu says when she became chair of the northern iwi, Mrs Harawira warned her she was on her own and would need tobe discerning about who her friends were.
She was a source of advice and support, even if they sometimes disagreed about the decisions made.
“She let me make my mistakes once she told me, gave me the options, and then supported me back onto the right track, She’ve vry good. She was probably the most insightful mentor that I have had, that I will ever have,” Ms Mangu says.
Titewhai Harawira constantly reminded Ngapuhi they had never ceded sovereignty, and she also fought for the voices of wahine to be heard.