Parihaka mourns kuia Maata Wharehoka’s passing

Kua manawa hē te manawa piharau o te hapori o Parihaka.

Pā matriarch Maata Wharehoka has passed away today, aged 74.

For nearly 30 years, Wharehoka, of Ngāti Tahinga, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Kuia, was the caretaker of Parihaka Marae.

An expert in marae arts, raranga (weaving) and karanga, the trained nurse was a strong advocate for Kahu Whakatere Tupapaku, the tikanga Māori practices surrounding death and burial.

She will be taken to Te Niho o Te Ātiawa whare at the Parihaka papakāinga tonight.

She will lay there in a waka tūpāpaku, wrapped in woven harakeke, until Sunday when she will be buried at Te Mōrehu urupā.

Moe mai rā e te māreikura.

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