February 16, 2023
Hinewirangi taught how to walk Maori
Hauraki Waikato MP Nanaia Mahuta has paid tribute Hinewirangi Kohu-Morgan, a poet, healer, social activist and founder of the first Maori women’s refuge who died yesterday.
Ms Mahuta says she was known to through her decades of community service, her contributions to Maori arts and culture and her way of turning lived experience into restorative action.
After setting up centres for healing Maori women and children, she started a programme at Wakeria prison to help tane strenghten their connections to te ao Maori and stop offending.
“She was a vibrant character, wasn’t shy with saying what she thought. As she got older she got even more bold with the things she thought so she was very entertaining too and I think the people who were mentored by her felt quite lucky to have spent time with her because she was very generous with her knowledge and whakaaro but also her teachings around how to look at life and how to embrace te ao Maori within your walk,” Ms Mahuta says.
Hinewirangi Kohu-Morgan is lying within her whare tipuna ā Tamateapokaiwhenua, at Huria Marae in Tauranga Moana.
The ra nehu is on Saturday.