Poroporoaki: Jane Marsden
Hon Tariana Turia, Co-leader of the Maori Party
Thursday 26 November 2009

E te whäea, tupuna, kuia rangatira, moe mai ra, moe mai ra i to moenga roa.

Haere ki to hoa rangatira ki a Maori e tatari mai ra ki a koe. Ka nui te aroha ki o tamariki, mokopuna, rätou ko nga hunaonga, ara te whänau nui tonu kua whakarerea nei e tangi ana ki a koe.

Co-leader of the Maori Party, Tariana Turia, has expressed her great sadness at the passing of a well known elder of the North, Jane Marsden.

‘Aunty Janie was an expressive and very articulate kuia, who is loved and well-known, not just in the North, but right throughout Aotearoa” said Mrs Turia.

“She was a committed Christian and heavily involved in the Anglican Church” said Mrs Turia. “Some would call her the conscience of the church; indeed she was the conscience of the community”.

“Aunty Janie was never afraid to speak her mind and had a fearless courage about her in that she was always prepared to hold people to account. If she didn’t agree with a particular action she would say so, but she would do so quietly and with respect. She had that capacity to exert influence with just a quiet word and she would never demean another. The legacy of her leadership inspires us all to treat each other with respect".

“I know that she was a passionate and positive enthusiast for young people; to guide and support them in their way forward”.

“Aunty Janie was also devoted to the uplifting of whanau – always making a priority of attending weddings, tangi, birthdays, baptisms and the like”.

“We know she will be mourned by many; but we extend our particular sympathies to her seven children and many mokopuna who will be grieving the loss of Janie and her late husband, the much respected Maori Marsden”.

ENDS